Discussion Questions for Granny

Each week, read the assigned chapters, and choose 2 questions to answer in detail in your reading notebook. You will be discussing the chapters and your answers to these questions and questions that others have answered, during your book club meeting. Please note that your responses should include evidence from the text as well as your own ideas and experiences. Schedule: Week 1 – chapter 1-5; week 2 – chapter 6-8; week 3 chapter 8 - end; week 4 no reading

1. Name and describe the main character in the book. Describe him/her physically and describe his/her personality and history, if known. Then give your impression of him/her. 2. Name and describe a minor character. Describe her/him physically and describe her/his personality and history, if known. Explain how s/he is important to the story and the ideas of the book. 3. Are the characters convincing-do they come across as believable human beings with underlying motivations? Are they fully developed as emotionally complex individuals? 4. Which characters do you admire or dislike-and why? What are their primary characteristics; how would you describe them? 5. What motivates the actions of a given character? To what degree does the character's past play a role in her present actions? 6. Describe the nature of the relationship between two characters. Include their history together and details of their relationship. Explain the significance of their relationship to the book. 7. Describe one important event in the book and explain why it is significant to the story (to the plot, the characters, the ideas of the book). 8. What are your feelings and thoughts about the novel based on one or more specific things you have read? Give examples from the book to support your answer. 9. Find one specific idea, event, or behavior in the book that relates to real life. Explain what makes it realistic to you. 10.What is the general feeling or mood of the book? Give specific examples of how the author creates that feeling or mood. 11.Compare and contrast two characters. To do this, consider their behavior and personality. 12.Explain the organization of the book. How it is important to the story? 13.Choose a sentence or phrase that attracts you. Explain why you chose it, its value in the book and its value to you. 14.Do any characters grow or change over the course of the novel? Does any character come to learn something about themself or view the world differently? If so, what does she/he learn? Or is the character "static," unchanging from beginning to end? 15.What is the central conflict of the plot? Is the conflict internal to the character (a psychological conflict)? Or is it external, having to do with character vs. character? Character vs. society? Character vs. nature? (Most novels have a combination of both internal and external conflict.) 16.Is the novel plot-driven? In other words, does the plot unfold quickly, focusing more on action than on the inner lives of the characters? Which do you prefer? 17.Is the plot well-developed? Is it believable...or is it forced? Is it suspenseful or more contemplative? Does it unfold naturally, or do you feel manipulated along the way by coincidences, odd plot twists, or cliffhangers? 18.Is the ending satisfying? Predictable or not? Does it wrap up the ends neatly? Does it leave some issues unresolved, questions unanswered? If you could change the ending, would you...if so, how would you change it? 19.Does the author use humor, irony, symbolism, or metaphors? Give examples and explain the effect. 20.What is the peak event, the climax, of the novel? What major conflicts lead up to it and what is the resolution afterward? 21.What is the theme or themes in the novel? How does the author show this idea? Give evidence. Comment on how this theme fits in the novel and how it applies to life outside the book. What does this theme mean to you? 22.What did you learn from this novel? In answering this, you may comment on any aspect of the novel including how it is written.