Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Here are some discussion questions.
1. If there is a heaven, do you believe it is something similar to this interpretation?
2. Why do you think Eddy had to learn lessons about his old life to accept his new one in heaven?
Tuesdays with Morrie
Discussion Questions:
1) Morrie taught Mitch some of the most valuable life lessons he could have ever learned and he effected Mitch's life in such a positive way. If Mitch had never seen Morrie on that late night television show, then he never would have been reunited with his long lost college professor and got to learn everything that he did. Do you think everything happens for a reason and there's a purpose for everything, whether it be small or large?
2) How would you react if you learned that someone close to you had contracted a life-altering disease? (such as Morrie being diagnosed with ALS)
3) Is there a person in your life that has effected you in a significant way? (Just like Morrie impacted Mitch's life)
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening seems to have the perfect life. She is married to the best husband known in the town, has two beautiful boys and has a lovely house. Every woman envies her life. Edna wishes for a different life though. It seems she is never happy, although her life seems to be great. Her close friend, Adèle teaches Edna a lot about self expression. Through Adèle, Edna learns she can break traditional rules of women, and show her individuality more.
Through knowing Adèle, Edna meets Robert, a young gentleman that picks one married woman a year to “attend” to for a summer. This particular summer, Edna was the woman he chose. As they got to know each other, Edna began to feel young again. Robert taught her to swim in the lake. Edna swam farther than any woman has gone before. Edna soon became depressed when she was with her husband because she misses her freedom that she felt with Robert. She felt unappreciated.
Mademoiselle Reisz, a pianist, was the only person that could cheer Edna up. Edna loved to listen to her songs. It also made Mademoiselle Reisz feel appreciated because no one liked to listen to her songs. These two women boosted each others confidence.
When Robert returns to the town, he tells Edna he loves her, but can not be with her, since she is married to another man. Edna wanted Robert to stay with her, but was forced to go when Adele was giving birth to a child. While she was aiding her friend, Robert left, with only a note saying farwell. Edna became upset and drowned herself in the lake in which she learned to swim.
Discussion Questions
1. In the opening scene, a parrot was talking to a mocking bird. The parrot is talking in English and french while the mocking bird is singing back to the parrot. What do you think this may symbolize?
2. What do you think the lake symbolizes where Edna learned to swim, and also took her own life?
Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson is a Swedish crime novel that reached #1 on the New York Bestsellers List. It tells the story of Mikael Blomkvist a reporter and part owner of a magazine called Millennium who was falsely accused of libel. The lawsuit causes financial problems and threatens the success of Millennium. Mikael is unable to refuse the money when he is approached by an aging aristocrat Henrik Vanger to investigate the 40 year old murder of his niece Harriet under the pretense of writing Vanger's biography. Harriet Vanger was 16 when she disappeared off the the family's private island. Henrik had poured thousands of dollars into a thorough investigation but the case eventually went cold. The murder still haunts him 40 years later. Mikael is aided in his investigation of the case by a tattooed punk named Lisbeth Salander. Together they uncover the dark history of the Vanger family and expose astonishing corruption.
2. Harriet and her brother Martin had an abusive father. Harriet turned out completely normal, while Martin followed in his father footsteps. Do you think that children that come from abusive households are more likely to carry those negative traits into adulthood?