Book Club Questions - 2004 Titles

Jump to: Life of Pi | Rape: A Love Story | The Voice of the Butterfly

Questions for 2005 titles | Questions for 2005 Titles

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

•  How does Pi's ownership of his story of being shipwrecked, either with Richard Parker or with the cannibalistic cook, relate to his religious awakening and identity?

•  Does the Life of Pi allude to existentialist themes? How does religion, or the lack thereof, affirm or deny his sense of freewill? Individualism? How would these questions change Pi's survivalist strategies?

•  There is a mention of a sloth in Chapter One. Is there supposed to be a direct symbolic connection between the sloth and Pi's situation on the lifeboat? Is Pi a sloth or not? Pi describes the sloth as being God-like. Would that make Pi God-like? In which of his three pronounced religions?

•  How does this novel comment on the food chain in the animal kingdom? Is there an affirmation about humanity being on the top of that chain? How does the omnivorous island play upon your answer?

•  Yann Martel has been quoted as saying that, “India is a place where all stories are possible.” To what extent does the setting of India help convey the realism of the story for you? In which moments of the book did you find yourself lost in the story?

•  Life of Pi can be considered a ‘coming of age' story. Through his experience at sea, Pi's survivalist urge overtakes his sense of empathy. How does this defense mechanism stay with Pi and how does he maintain his empathetic traits through his relationship with Richard Parker?

•  To what extent is Pi's story an epic parable about conquering fear? Chapter 56 addresses the nature of fear and Chapter 57 addresses it in terms of Pi's situation with Richard Parker. How might this apply to an everyday situation?

•  Although this novel is deeply religious, Martel writes, “to look out with idle hope is tantamount to dreaming one's life away.” What become a more valuable tool for Pi, his ardent faith or his practical background in zoology?

•  In Chapter 78, in Pi's description of the setting, the sky and sea take on animal or living characteristics. In what way does the setting also become a character in the novel? What would this metaphor say about Pi and Richard Parker's non-adversarial situation? Is the setting the antagonist of the novel? If not, who or what is?

•  In what way does Pi become the sole survivor of the shipwreck?

Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates

•  What is the significance of Oates choosing a second person narration, to address Bethie Maguire? How is her witnessing what happens to her mother change the mood of the novel?

•  Discuss the animal symbolism in this novel. The rapists are described as a “pack of dogs” and there is mention of a hawk's cry and other hawk imagery. Which animal imageries associate with which characters? What does the hawk symbolize? Justice? How does the sense of predatory animals fit with the rapists? Where in the novel can this imagery be seen?

•  How is the setting of Niagara Falls significant to the story? What about the falls themselves is indicative of the people in this novel?

•  How does Oates shift the association of setting, being Niagara Falls, from a characteristically romantic setting, to one of a horrible crime?

•  How does the specific date of this novel, the Fourth of July, conflict with its mood? How might your reaction to the commonality of this story shift if the action of this story fell on another date? Is there a connection between the violence in this book and an interpretation of patriotism or democracy?

•  How is the community of Niagara Falls described in relation to Teena Maguire and her daughter? How would you describe this community? Is there a moral base for this communities' feelings? Does the community have a predominantly matriarchal or patriarchal attitude collectively?

•  How does the community of Niagara Falls deal with Teena as a woman? Does this say something about their attitudes on femininity or women's bodies? Or does it say something about their mood towards people in general?

•  What is the purpose of the character John Dromoor? What is his perception of justice? How does his character change or not change throughout the course of this book? Find specific passages that may support or deny your claim.

•  How does this book's structure (short chapters, shifting point of view) help tell the story or convey certain aspects of the psychological basis of the narrative? How does the narrative voice make this novel real?

•  What does Bethie feel for officer Dromoor? What is the significance of their relationship? How does this help her develop as a character?

The Voice of The Butterfly by John Nichols

•  Charley McFarland is the novel's narrator. What do you think is the purpose of Charley breaking from moments of realism to the fantastic? Do you think this compromises his reliability as narrator? Does it more fully develop his character?

•  Are the violent episodes in the novel there for a polemical effect or social commentary? Are they comedic? Are they both?

•  How does Nichols criticize modern society in the novel? Does he provide moderate solutions to these problems?

•  Are the Butterfly Coalitions' causes inseparable from the author? In what ways might Nichols be parading grass roots organizations? Why would he do so?

•  Which of the Butterfly Coalition members are your favorites? Why? Consider what it is they contribute to the organization and how they might complicate matters?

•  All of the plot/action of the novel revolves around the preservation of a butterfly called the Phistic Copper. How does the Phistic Copper become the least of Charley's problems? In what way does the purity of this cause remedy some of Charlie's shortcomings as a leader?

•  In what ways does Nichols parody the media, particularly the news media? Is this parody comically exaggerated or does this accurately mock current reporting? How does this resemble or distort any news coverage that you have witnessed lately?

•  Nob Hill is home to the socially elite of Suicide City. What do you think that it symbolizes in terms of the setting?

•  What sacrifices does the Butterfly Coalition make by the end of the novel? Does this sacrifice seem fitting? Is there retribution for these sacrifices? Does this make the ending melodramatic? Tragic?

•  In the last chapter there is a reflection on grass roots activism and its potential. In what way does Charlie's attitude differ from his son, Luther? Are these reflections idealistic? Radical? In what ways would you agree or disagree with what the Butterfly Coalition proposes?

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