Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Characters
Richardson Family	Others
William - lawyer Elena - reporter Lexie Trip Moody Isabelle – Izzy - youngest	Mia Warren/Wright Pearl George and Regina Wright – Mia’s parents Warren – brother, deceased Joseph and Madeline Ryan – Pearl’s father Mark and Linda McCullough Mirabelle (May Ling) Bebe – May Ling’s mother Ed Lim - lawyer Serena Wong – Lexie’s friend Brian – Lexie’s boyfriend Pauline Hawthorne – artist of “Virgin and Child #1” (1982) Anita Rees – Rees Art Gallery in Manhattan

For Discussion:

NOTE: All page numbers are from hardback edition.

1. Discuss the dynamics in the Richardson family, particularly Elena and Izzy.  On page 111 the author wrote about Izzy, “The sense that all the children had – including Izzy – was that she was a particular disappointment to their mother, that for reasons unclear to them, their mother resented her.”  On the last page Elena comes to the realization that she and Izzy are similar and that Izzy has the spirit she did not recognize in herself. 
2. Toward the end of chapter 11 the author described Elena’s “reverence for order and rules and decorum” (page 159).  Also, on page 161 the author wrote of Elena, “All her life, she had learned that passion, like fire, was a dangerous thing.  It so easily went out of control.”  Also, on page 161, “Rules exist for a reason: if you followed them, you would succeed; if you didn’t, you might burn the world to the ground.”  How was this philosophy evident in Elena and not in Mia and Izzy?   What do you think about rules?
3. The Shaker community was based on the idea that “Perfection: that was the goal…feeding those who grew up there with a propensity to overachieve and a deep intolerance for flaws” (page 23).  Aside from “intolerance for flaws,” is there anything wrong with striving for perfection?
4. How accurate do you think Mia’s assessment was of Elena at the end of chapter 18 when Elena told her to move away?  Mia said, “It terrifies you.  That you missed out on something.  That you gave up something you didn’t know you wanted” (page 302).
5. Mia started to work for the Richardson family, cleaning in the morning when no one was there and cooking in the afternoon when everyone was there so that she could observe them “both when they were there and when they weren’t” (page 73).  What would someone learn about you if they studied your home when you were not there?
6. Discuss the photos Mia left for the Richardson family and how they described each person (chapter 20, pages 328-329).
7. Was Elena justified in searching into Mia’s background?
8. Discuss Mia and her decision to run away with Pearl and keep her from her father.  How was that different from the Richardson’s trying to take Mirabelle away from Bebe?
9. When Elena discovered Mai’s past, she reflected, “What would she have done if she’d been in that situation?” (page 239).  What do you think she would have done?
10. What was so alluring about Mia to Izzy and Lexie? 
11. Why do you think Mirabelle did not cry out when Bebe took her from her crib?  Would it have been different if, as Elena hoped, she had never known her mother?
12. Did Mia unconsciously give Bebe permission to take her baby when she told her, “You will always be her mother.  Nothing will ever change that” (page296).
13. When reading the first part of chapter 16 where the narrative flipped back and forth between the McCullough’s and Bebe’s cases, did you think one side was more compelling than the other?   Did you agree with the ruling?
14. At the beginning of the novel (chapter 7, pages 79-82), when Izzy was mad at Mrs. Peters for picking on Deja, Mia asked her what she was going to do about it (page 79).  She went so far as to tell her not to just target Mrs. Peters.  Was this irresponsible on Mia’s part?  How did this influence the end of the novel?
15. When trying to explain to Izzy that Bebe would somehow survive when she was not given custody, Mia used the analogy of new growth after a cleansing prairie fire (page 295).   Was she unconsciously planting the idea in Izzy’s head of burning down the house?
16. Do you think Elena will ever find out that Lexie had the abortion?  Will Lexie tell her?  How do you think she will react?
17. What do you think happened after the story ended?   Did Izzy find Mia and Pearl?  Were the various families reunited; Mia with the Wrights, Izzy with the Richardsons?

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and hard copy from wordassociation.com.

The Only Woman in the Room, by Marie Benedict

People
Austria	Hollywood
Hedwig Kiesler – Hedy Lamarr Gertrude – mother Father – bank manager Friedrich “Fritz” Mandl – munitions manufacturer, 1937 collaborated with Hitler Ada – maid Ernest von Starhemberg – vice-chancellor, ousted by Schuschnigg for being too soft on Germans Ferdinand von Starhemberg – brother, instrumental in attempted escape Kurt von Schuschnigg – Minister of Justice and Education; Austrian dictator, May 1936 Chancellor Dollfuss – cohort of Fritz Social Democratic Party Christian Social Party – Fritz’s party, anti-Semites Mussolini – “Il Duce,” armed by Fritz Laura – maid similar in appearance to Hedy	Hedy Lamarr – Hedwig Kiesler Louis B. Mayer Margaret Mayer Ilona Massey – Hungarian actress, roommate Gene Markey – second husband James – adopted son Mrs. Burton – nanny George Antheil – composer, scientist, inventor National Inventor’s Council Eddie Rhodes – sailor in audience of all war bond performances, Hedy offered to kiss him if certain amount of war bonds sold

or Discussion:

For Discussion:
NOTE: Page numbers are from hardback edition.

1. Did Hedy and her family have a choice regarding her marriage to Fritz?  Her father felt Fritz could protect Hedy and her mother (page 100).
2. Hedy always felt that her mother thought her unworthy, but toward the end of the book she told Hedy she only did that to counteract the praise from her father.  Was her explanation in the letter sent in 1939 believable?  Did you believe her mother or understand her?
3. Hedy’s father thought that Fritz was committed to keeping Austria independent from Germany (page 39).  Was Fritz a hero for trying to protect Austria or a villain for producing weapons and arming Mussolini?
4. Discuss the differences between Hedy’s two dressers – Mrs. Lubbig in Austria (chilly and reticent) and Susie in America (bubbly).  One difference Hedy noticed was that, “Americans were so familiar with one another” (page 161).
5. Hedy felt guilty about not warning anyone of the impending dangers she discovered in listening to Fritz and his colleagues’ conversations.  In 1939 she thought, “The gravity of my crime had become clear…. I bore blame for keeping this secret.  My silence and selfishness had allowed the floodgates to open” (page 184).  Realistically was there anything she could have done?
6. George Antheil was a composer, but he worked with Hedy on radio-control system ideas for the torpedoes.  Hedy said he was perfect because he had “a highly developed sense of mechanical instruments…You approach problems – the world, even – from a broad perspective” (page 205).  Why do you think they were so successful as a team?
7. At one point, George spontaneously kissed Hedy and it took a while for her to forgive him.  She “understood that his overture had been kneejerk, as Susie like to say, a behavior ingrained by society in most men” (page 215).  Would this be forgiven today?
8. At the end of the book, Hedy wondered which person she had become; “Hedy Lamarr, only a beautiful face and lissome body” or “Had I taken the persona to which I’d been relegated and made myself into a weapon against the Third Reich after all” (page 243).   What do you think?
9. According to Wikipedia, there were several inaccuracies in this story.  For example, her parents did not approve of her marriage to Fritz and also documentation was discovered that proved that James was not a refugee baby but instead the illegitimate child of Hedy and John Loder, her third husband.   Are these facts important to your opinion of Hedy Lamarr?
10. Given the above information, this would be classified as historical fiction.  Did you like the way it was written in the first person?

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and hard copy from wordassociation.com.  

Us Against You, by Fredrik Backman

Hockey Teams

Others

Peter Andersson – General Manager Kira – wife, lawyer Maya – raped by Kevin Erdahl Leo – 12 years old Benji Ovich Mother Sisters – Katia, Adri, and Gaby Amat Fatima – mother, cleans rink Bobo Ann-Katrin – mother, nurse, cancer Hog – father Two younger siblings Vidar Rinnius – released early from facility to be goalie, Teemu’s younger brother, killed in accident Sune – previous coach, sick Elizabeth Zackel – head coach Heb team: David – coach William Lyt

Peter’s best friends: Tails – owns supermarket Hog Ana – Maya’s friend Amat’s best friends: Zacharias Lifa Councillors: Richard Theo Female politician – ax in hood of car Spanish-home-owning politician Ramona – owns Bearskin bar Five uncles The Pack: Teemu Rinnius Spider Woody Jeanette – teacher, martial arts teacher Alicia – 4 ½ years old, future hockey player

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from hardback edition.

1. What did you think about the various characters in the novel?  Were they portrayed as good, bad, or a complicated mix?  Consider Richard Theo, the Pack, Peter, the female politician, and others.
2. Elizabeth named Benji as team captain and told him, “…I’m giving you the thing you’re most terrified of: responsibility for other people” (page 193).  Following that, he and the team realize he has already become their leader.  Why did she pick Benji?
3. Why did the people in both towns care so much that Benji was gay?
4. David, coach of Hed team, felt that “…leadership is a matter of manipulating emotions to achieve results” (page 204).   Does this present a more negative view of leadership?   How effective were the various leaders in the novel?
5. Did you understand how sports was portrayed in the novel?  For example, the author wrote, “It’s easy for children to love hockey, because you don’t have to think when you’re playing it.  Memory loss is one of the finest things sports can give us” (page 17).  Is this true of all sports?
6. The other allure of sports that the author emphasized was that the team can become like a family, “(f)or anyone who needs an extra one or never had one in the first place” (page 332). And that “(s)ports carry the promise that we can have everything tonight.  Only sports can do that” (page 333).  Do you agree?  If you played a team sport did you experience this?
7. Do you think the dynamics in the Andersson family was fair?  Peter and Kira decided to stay in Beartown to fight for the team, but was this fair to Maya and Leo?  Maya told Peter she did not want to move because, “this is my town, too” (page 58).  How did this decision affect Leo?  What about Kira sacrificing her career for Peter and the team?
8. On page 63 the author wrote, “So if you want to understand their biggest stories, first you have to listen to the smaller ones.”   Do you agree?  What were the small stories in the novel that influenced the overall plot? 
9. If you did not read Beartown, did you feel caught up with the story line and characters?
10. There were many issues addressed in the novel including the following.  Were there too many?  How well did the author address each one?  Did you gain any new insights?
1. Friendship
2. Loyalty
3. Family vs. career
4. Social media
5. Sexuality
6. Treatment of rape victims
7. Justice
8. Mental health
9. Crowd mentality
10. Politicians – honest and dishonest
11. Death

11. Did you like the foreshadowing the author used?  Did it keep you interested in the story and wanting to see what happened?
12. Besides the foreshadowing, did you enjoy the author’s writing?  For example, on page 292 he led the reader to think something different had happened than where the story went when he wrote, “There’s a long period of silence.  Then a single shot echoes between the trees.”  The writer led the reader to think Benji committed suicide but that is not what happened.

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and hard copy from wordassociation.com.

The Power of Books and Reading

Many of the books and articles I read this summer emphasized the power of books and reading, and their influence in many people’s lives.  

• In The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough, he wrote that Wilbur Wright was injured as a teenager and, because of that, was not able to attend Yale as planned.  He stayed at home for three years and read.    His father, Bishop Wright, “a lifelong lover of books, heartily championed the limitless value of reading” (page 17).
• Scott Kelly wrote in Endurance that The Right Stuff, by Thomas Wolfe, changed the direction of his life.
• Many people involved in the space program such as Homer Hickam and Robert Goddard mentioned Jules Verne’s books From the Earth to the Moon and The War of the Worlds as an influence on their interest space exploration.
• Many successful women were inspired by the Nancy Drew series including Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg (“The Mystery of the Nancy Drew Pittsburgh Connection,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8-16-2019).

There are multiple reasons to read including pure pleasure, escape, knowledge, inspiration, comfort, and many more.  The benefits of reading include developing critical thinking skills, empathy, an extended attention span, as well as the previous list.   We often don’t know the influence something we read will have on our lives in the near or far future.  So – just keep reading!

The Glass Universe, by Dava Sobel

People

Vocabulary

Dr. Henry Draper Anna Palmer Draper – funded research Edward Pickering – director of Harvard College Observatory, 1877-1919 Lizzie – wife William Pickering – Edward’s younger brother, first director Southern Hemisphere Observatory Solon Bailey – found site for Southern Hemisphere Observatory, 2nd director Catherine Wolfe Bruce – funded 24” telescope and more Williamina “Mina” Fleming – started as maid, developed classification system for stars, discovered 10 novae and 300+ variable stars 1906 granted honorary membership in Royal Astronomical Society Had 30-year career Antonia Maury – Henry Draper’s niece; Vassar grad; studied physics, astronomy and philosophy; expanded Fleming’s classification system Henrietta Swan Leavitt – Radcliff alumna, discovered thousands of variable stars Annie Jump Cannon – first female to examine stars at night by telescope Margaret Harwood - 1912 – first recipient Nantucket Maria Mitchell Assoc. fellowship 1915 – first woman in charge of independent observatory Dr. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin – discovered stars the same in chemical composition, different in temperature in 1925

Photometry – measurement of brightness of stars Polaris – North Star, basis for brightness scale Mizar – star in handle of Big Dipper Nova – new or temporary star Eros – newly discovered asteroid in 1898

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from paperback edition.

1. Discuss the pace of the advancement of the women in the book.
1. Miss Cannon – 1896-1897, first time woman used telescope herself (page 75)
2. Antonia Maury – 1897, first time woman credited with authorship in Annals of the Harvard College Observatory (page 79)
3. Mina Fleming – 1899, named curator of astronomical photographs, the first woman to hold a title at observatory, college or university (page 89)
4. Margaret Harwood – 1915, first woman in charge of an independent observatory (page 167)
5. 1930 – women did not have to resign when married (page 228)
6. 1938 – Harvard officially named Annie Cannon as Astronomer and Curator; Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin as Phillips Astronomer (page 244)
7. 1956 – Harvard named first woman as full professor (page 258)
2. Until 1930, if a woman married, she had to quit the observatory.   Why do you think the women were so dedicated to their science? 
3. After WW I, some scientists wanted to exclude scientists from enemy countries from postwar professional societies (page 173).  Do you think they should have been excluded or was the advancement of science more important? Warner Von Braun once worked for the Nazis but was instrumental in our space exploration program and landing man on the moon.
4. What did you like or not like about this book?  What did you learn?  
5. If you did not like it, why do you think it received as average review on Amazon of 4 ½ stars?

*****
First Semester Success, 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hard copy from amazon.com and hard copy from wordassociation.com.

The Martian, by Andy Weir

Ares 3

On Earth

Mark Watney – stranded on Mars Commander Melissa Lewis – husband Robert Beth Johanssen Rick Martinez – piloted MDV, wife Marissa, son David Alex Vogel – wife Helena Dr. Chris Beck Hermes – rocket ship MDV – Mars Descent Vehicle MAV – Mars Ascent Vehicle Hab Sol – One day on Mars, 24 hours and 39 minutes earth time

Venkat Kapoor – director of Mars operations, handled all direct communication with Watney Teddy Sanders – NASA administrator Mandy Park – monitoring satellites around Mars, discovered Watney alive Annie Montrose – director of media relations Bruce Ng – director of JPL Mitch Henderson – Ares 3 flight director Rich Purcell – astrodynamicist, plan to send Hermes back to rescue Watney Cathy Warner – CNN reporter Dr. Irene Shields – flight psychologist China: Guo Ming – director National Space Administration Zhu Tao – under-director

For Discussion:

NOTE: The page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1. The crew were four months into their trip back to earth before they were told that Watney was alive back on Mars.   Should they have been told sooner?
2. Consider Mark Watney.  How realistic do you think his character was?    Were his problem-solving skills realistic?   Was it realistic that he was able to maintain his sense of humor?
3. Previously this summer we read Moon Shot, by Deke Slayton and Alan Shepard, and Endurance, by Scott Kelly.  What did you read or learn in these books that added to your understanding of this fiction book?  When Watney needed some encouragement as he was getting ready to leave to meet crewmates, he asked himself, “What would an Apollo astronaut do?” (page 268).
4. Did you understand Teddy Sanders decision to not try the “Rich Purnell Maneuver” to save Watney?  What would you have decided and why? 

5. The crew did not hesitate about their desire to go back and rescue Watney.  Were you surprised? How do you think you would react if you were in their families’ position?   Discuss the different reactions of their families:
1. Robert, Lewis’ husband said, “I understand why you’re doing all this.  Still, from a selfish point of view, I miss my wife” (page 243).
2. Marissa, Martinez’s wife, said, “You volunteered to extend the mission five hundred and thirty-three days…asshole” and “your son…won’t have any memories of you” (page 249).
3. Johanssen’s father asked her, “Why would you do that to your mother?” (page 251).
6. Johanssen was picked to be the one to survive if there was a catastrophe because she was the youngest and smallest and would need the least amount of food.  It was revealed she would be expected to eat her crewmates if it came to it.  What did you think about that?
7. At the end, the author changed style twice.  On pages 309 and 310 he told the story in the third person, referring to Watney as “the traveler.”  On pages 323 and 324 he again wrote in the third person and referred to Watney as “the astronaut.”  Was this an effective writing device?  Did you like it or not?
8. How realistically do you think the novel portrayed Mars explorations and the personalities of all people involved?
9. In the last seven paragraphs, Watney addresses the issue of the cost of rescuing him.   Did you like this ending of the book?

*****

First Semester Success: 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hardcopy from amazon.com and hardcopy from wordassociation.com.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Characters	Locations
Kathy H. – narrator, carer for 11 years, age 31 when telling story Ruth Tommy Hailsham: Miss Geraldine – favorite guardian Miss Lucy – thought students not being taught enough, should be told the truth Madame – took best art work for Gallery Miss Emily - head guardian Chrissie and Rodney – at The Cottages, thought they saw Ruth’s “possible” in Norfolk	Hailsham Through age 16 Guardians Collection chests The Exchange The Sales The Cottages There for two years after Hailsham People left to become carers or donors Norfolk

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from paperback edition of book.

1. The reader is told the destiny of the Hailsham students on page 81.  Were you surprised or did you figure it out before that?  How well did the author plant clues to keep you interested without explicitly giving the information?
2. What affect did not knowing anything about the outside world have on the students? 
3. Did you agree with Miss Lucy that the students should be told more about their purpose in life?
4. Discuss the ongoing relationship among Kathy, Ruth and Tommy.   Why did each behave the way they did?  Why did Ruth always seem to cause conflict?
5. The purpose of encouraging art and collecting the best work for The Gallery was to show others that the children had souls.  Did you agree with this?  Did it give them false hope?
6. Kathy noticed that couples at The Cottages patterned their behavior after couples on TV shows (page 120) and after a while Ruth changed how she interacted with Tommy to match.  Did you find this surprising?  In the novel it was in the early 2000’s.   What TV couples were they modeling?  If children had no other role models, what would they learn today from watching how couples and friends interacted in the media?
7. Did your opinion of Madame change at the end of the novel, particularly when reading her interpretation of why she cried watching Kathy dance to song as a young girl.  She told her, “And I saw a little girl, her eyes tightly closed, holding to her breast the old kind world, one that she knew in her heart could not remain…”  (page 272).
8. As she was leaving Kathy and Tommy, she said, “You poor creatures” (page 272).  How did this make you feel?  How did it affect Kathy and Tommy?
9. Was it kind or cruel to raise the students at Hailsham where it was, “…demonstrated to the world that if students were reared in humane, cultivated environments, it was possible for them to grow to be as sensitive and intelligent as any other ordinary human being” (page 261)?  Why was this not popular with the citizens in the country?
10. What did you think about the idea that the students were cloned from “trash” instead of a productive person?
11. On page 96, Kathy directly addresses the reader and identifies the reader as another donor, “I don’t know how it was where you were but at Hailsham…”  Did you pick up on this?  Does it make a difference in your understanding of the story?
12. Did you know the basic premise of the story before beginning the novel?  (In my edition of the of the book there was no plot summary on the back cover.)  What difference did prior knowledge of the story, or lack of prior knowledge, make to your reading experience?
13. Do you often read dystopian novels?  Do you like the genre?  If not, did you like this one?
14. The blurb on the front of my paperback edition says, “The best novel of the decade.” by Time magazine.  Do you agree?   Why was the novel so highly regarded?

*****
First Semester Success: 2nd edition, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available as an eBook and hardcopy from amazon.com and a hardcopy from wordassociation.com.