Hey Mary! Would you want to be the next discussion leader? If so, it would be great if you could set the new chapters. :))

<3 Fidelity 

This was really fun! Pygmy, the questions were great.

Who do you think the narrator is? Is he someone you might know about, or who will be important later in the book?

I’m pretty positive the narrator is Death. First of all, at every instance we see he’s there, someone has died. He also implies his identity a lot in the first few pages. On page three, he says in the interlude thing, “I’m nothing if not fair.” This is in reference to the first interlude, which is about death, so he basically references himself. On page three, he says, “You will know me well enough and soon enough, depending on a diverse range of variables.” He also says, “I will be standing over you… Your soul will be in my arms.” All of this together pretty much paints a picture of death, which the narrator is referencing to himself. I think it’s a really interesting idea to have a personified concept narrate a story, and I’m excited to see how it plays out and affects the proceedings.

What do you think the narrator means when he says, “I’ve seen more eclipses than I care to remember.”?

I think in this line, the eclipses are metaphors for death, like the eclipse of a human soul. And when the narrator says he’s seen more than he cares to remember, he’s talking about all the lost lives he’s seen over the years.

Why do you think the boy in the third chapter (THE ECLIPSE) gave the teddy bear to the dying pilot?

The teddy bear in the third chapter is a symbol of comfort. Teddy bears and other stuffed animals tend to be things that comfort children, and when the little boy saw the man alone and in pain, his thought was that if his bear made him feel better, maybe it could help the pilot. Also, I know this book takes place during a war, and I think this scene could serve to emphasize that and the effect it’s had on individuals, particularly children. The way the little boy witnessed this kind of upsetting death and thought to provide comfort implies that this isn’t the first he’s seen of death and war.

What is the purpose of the little bold interlude thingies? Which one do you think is the most important?

I think the purpose of the interludes is to break up the text and introduce new points, which the narrator then expands upon in the prose. It serves as a way to move the story along. I think the most important interlude is ***A SMALL THEORY***. It introduces the idea of the colors, which is a repeating concept throughout the prologue.

The narrator says, “...I have kept her story to retell. It is one of a small legion I carry, each one extraordinary in its own right. Each one an attempt—an immense leap of an attempt—to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it.” Do you think we are worth it? Why?

That’s a great question. Humanity, as a whole, has been pretty bad for the world. We’ve killed the Earth, we’ve started wars, we’ve hurt one another. I don’t think humanity is worth it. However, I do think that individual lives are, if that makes any sense. As a whole, we’ve done more harm than good, but each individual person has worth and value and deserves to live.

What is your ideal reading environment? Why? 

Hmm, I think the ideal spot would be my bay window, with lots of light and nature just outside.

could I join after y'all finish The Book Thief? I know I'm very late so I won't mind if I can't join.

Ahh sorry this is so late. I forgot >.<

Who do you think the narrator is? Is he someone you might know about, or who will be important later in the book?  

I think the narrator is death. I don't know why. I think the narrator will be important throughout the entire book. 

What do you think the narrator means when he says, "I've seen more eclipses than I care to remember." ? 

 Maybe every time a life goes out of the world, he sees it as an eclipse?

Why do you think the boy in the the third chapter (THE ECLIPSE) gave the teddy bear to the dying pilot? 

Because there should always be something wholesome in all books.  

What is the purpose of the little bold interlude thingies? Which one do you think is the most important? 

I think the purpose is to give effect and foreshadowing. I believe they are all important. 

The narrator says, "...I have kept her story to retell. It is one of a small legion I carry, each one extraordinary in its own right. Each one an attempt—an immense leap of an attempt—to prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it." Do you think we are worth it? Why?

No. I don't think we are worth it. We have killed the earth so much that i don't believe there is a "going back". :) 

And a BONUS! What is your ideal reading environment? Why? 

Hiding from my family, drinking something hot, and some sort of ambience noise.

Why am I so bad at these questions? asdfghjkl 

Prompts?

Sorry these are late! It totally slipped my mind yesterday, and I had in person school today. But hey, better late than never!

~~ 

In Arrival on Himmel Street, during one of the bold interjections, the narrator says, "The buildings appear to be glued together, mostly small houses and apartment blocks that look nervous" What makes a building look "nervous"? What does the author mean by that?

Supposedly, Rosa Hubermann loves Liesel. She just doesn't really show it. In what ways does she secretly reveal her love for Liesel?

Consider the relationship between Liesel and Rudy - how does Liesel see Rudy? How does Rudy see Liesel? (as a friend, sibling, girlfriend/boyfriend, etc.) 

The narrator is slightly vague about the characters and their traits. Who do you think is the nicest character we have met so far? (try and choose a more main character, not, like "The grave digger from the prologue") 

Bonus!! (because I'm copying Morning's idea)

When is the best time to read a book, and when do you read the most often?

~~ 

Sorry there are only four questions about the actual story, I was kind of rushing to get these out :/ Hopefully they are good discussion questions, and I will post my answers later! Also, sorry if these questions sound really school-y, I've been reading and answering way too many short story unit questions...

hello everyone! Let's not let this die again! If you don't want to answer the questions that's okay. Can we get someone to volunteer to be the next discussion leader? If you are willing to be then pleeeaase post the new chapters below.

Let's keep this book club alive! 

Hi I just came across this thread and well to be honest its dying. I was thinking I could post a list of book sugestions we could vote and me or someone else could lead a new book club. Here are my sugestions: Zenobia July, When stars are scattered, The Westing game and The school forgood and evil. Tell me what you think!

Hey guys, sorry for being totally forgetful and inconsistent! I can do discussion this week. I believe we are halfway through part 1? Do you think we could finish part 1 by this Sunday? Let me know what you guys think!

<3 Fidelity