Book Club Prep+Project Work Time AND Book Club Meeting #2

ANNOUNCEMENT:  Book Club Meeting #3 is cancelled!  Last book club meeting will be next Thur. 12/14!
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Mari from Food Not Bombs will be here from 9:50-10:10 and 10:15-10:35!!

3rd and 5th Periods: Work Time

Quiet Work Time!

• Book Club Prep
• Project Work Time

4th and 6th periods: Book Club Meeting #2

Book Club Meeting Protocol

1. Discussion Director begin by reading your SUMMARY only. Save questions until the end.
2. Each person take turns sharing your notes for your assigned role.
3. Discussion Director facilitate discussion!
4. Try to address the questions Ashley has for you as shown below.  Hopefully I'll be able to make it around to each group to help you analyze these texts more deeply. 

Ashley's Discussion Questions

Tale for Time Being (roughly pages 100-204)- Part II

1. p. 109- Epigraph to part 2—how does this quote relate to Ruth as she reads Nao’s diary? What about you? Do you better understand yourself through novels’ characters or project your own perspectives/experiences onto those of characters’ lives?
2. On page 112- the man describing losing his family in the Tsunami says that the past life “was a dream.  This is the reality. Everything is gone. We need to wake up and understand that.”
   1.   How does Ruth and Nao need to wake up to the reality? What past are they clinging onto and how does that negatively impact their happiness in the NOOOOOOOWWWW?
   2. Why is that so hard for people to be more present-minded?
3. Read pages 114-115 What does she mean by the question “What is the half-life of information” and how does technology, the internet, social media affect our ability to a) be present b) remember and focus on important information?  c) our memory and attention spans? And d) our own sense of importance and self-worth? 
   1. Stories fade away, we fade away, how will people remember us? How is Instagram and social media a response to existential angst?  I post therefore I am.
   2. Think about how Nao talks about her own blog and how no one really read it on page 125 especially coupled with her line on page 127—“maybe this is how it is when you die.  Your inbox stays empty”
4. At one point in the novel (121) Oliver says it is not surprising the kids bully Nao, look at our politicians. Do you think we live in a bully culture? If so, WHY?  Why do humans bully each other, the environment, whales? See page 117 bombing of the whales.
5. Read the dream Ruth has about Jiko on page 122-123à What do you think this dream MEANS and how does it relate to the theme of TIME and/or to the Buddhist concepts of formlessness and non-being? 
6. Personal choice in Japan v. US: Do you think the US is much different to how Nao describes her choices in Japan on page 13?  This also raises the question about fate v. free will. Which do you believe in more?
7. Another belief in Buddhism is that of interconnectedness—that all things are connected.  How does the author develop this theme throughout the novel?  Read page 145 again about the nuclear fallout from the nuclear power plant meltdown in Japan.  In general, how does the Tsunami serve as a “vehicle” for the author to integrate the theme of interconnectedness?
8. On pages 164-167, Nao shares some of the prayers she learns from Jiko—Expressing gratitude is an important element of Buddhism as well. What do you think about these prayers as a way to express gratitude and what is Nao’s reaction to the prayers?
9. On pages 168-170, Jiko asks Nao if she is very angry.  Why does she do this?  Also, in general, what do you think about the way Jiko helps Nao understand herself throughout the novel ?  Think about the beach scene where she asks Nao to battle the wave……….That scene is on pages 192-195.  What does Jiko mean by comparing the wave and the surfer?
10. How does the disappearance of the essay about Jiko on page 173 relate to Schrodinger’s cat? e
11. WHAT is up with the Crows/Ravens in the novel??
12. On pages 180-181 Nao explains her debate with Jiko about the intrinsic nature of humans—are we mostly GOOD or EVIL? What do you think?
13. Also, on page 181, Nao explains the instructions for sitting Zazen.  What does Zazen have to do with the theme of “attention” and time? Also, how does it help Nao?  Have you ever practiced meditation? What are the benefits of meditation?  There is a TED Talk and a lot of research about how meditation can help people be more present-minded AND how those who live more in the moment and don’t let their mind wander are actually happier.  What do you think?

Glass Castle

1. Why does Billy claim he raped Jeanette? (page 87).
2. On page 103, the kids learn another lesson from their parents, that they should “refuse to surrender to fear”.  In what ways do people surrender to fear- and what does that even mean. Do you agree with the advice?
3. On page 104, their mom passes on another lesson—to shun materialism and not be superficial.  Do you agree? In what ways are we/you a bit attached to materialism or superficial things? Does that affect your happiness at all? Also, do you think their mom lives true to this lesson throughout the book?

4.Page 111- mom justifies shoplifting.  Do you think it is morally acceptable for this family to shoplift? Why or why not? What would Kant, Bentham, or Rawls say?

Into the Wild
Ch. 7
1.How does the quote on page 61 help explain Chris’s own psychology?
2.See page 64: What is Chris’s relationship with his dad like?  How would that affect him?
Ch. 8

1. What are the similarities and differences between Chris and Waterman and Rosellin (see page 85

Ch. 9

1. What about between Chris and Everett Ruess in chapter 9?
2. Do you see any element of hypocrisy in Chris’s character? What do you make of his decision to carve/graffiti his name on page 89 in spite of his desire to get rid of his ego and find solitude?
3. What do you think of Chris, Krakauer and Everett’s rashness and risk-taking behavior? Is such extreme drive natural or is this a response to something about our culture or their own upbringing? Are they driven by some skeletons? Are they adrenalin junkies/addicts? Trying to escape something?
4. See page 97—Do you think solitude is important for us to experiencing in order for us to live more meaningful lives?