A Story Lately Told, by Anjelica Houston

People

Huston Family: Walter Houston – grandfather John – father Enrica Georgia Soma (Rikki) – mother  (John’s fourth wife) Tony – brother   Danny – step brother (father John, mother Zoe) Allegra – step sister (mother Rikki, father John Julius)   Pablo – John’s adopted son from “last life in America”   Joan Buck – friend Lizzie - friend   “Nurse” – Kathleen Shine – children’s nanny starting when Anjelica was three   Bob Richardson – Huston’s live-in boyfriend for four years – mentally ill   Cici – John’s fifth wife

For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.


1. On page 42 and 43 of the paperback, the author wrote, “Dad collected people as well,” and that she had only met Pablo once or twice because he “belonged to Dad’s last life in America.”   What does this say about John Huston’s regard for the value of family, friendship and people in general?


2. Anjelica and Tony were never told what was happening or why.   How did this affect them as children?  How do you think it will affect them as adults?


3. Why did everyone allow John to raise Allegra after Rikki’s death?    Her natural father offered to raise her.  Houston wrote on page 207 “I was proud of Dad when he agreed to raise Allegra” and then on page 211 she wrote “I’m scared of Dad…He frightens me.”


4. Which characters did you like/dislike?  What were your feelings regarding the people in the book as you were reading?


5. Discuss the Huston as a writer.  What was your reading experience with this book?


6. Are you interested in reading the sequel?  Why or why not?


7. How has the idea of “celebrity” changed since the early days of movies when the studios “managed” actors’ lives and careers?   Is it for the better or worse?


8. Do you think the idea of “celebrity” has been tainted by people like Kim Kardashian who are “famous” for nothing? 

*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

How Children Succeed, by Paul Tough

This was the One Book-One Conference selection for the College Reading and Learning Associations' national conference in November 2014. Here is a summary of the chapters and questions for discussion.

Chapter	Key Terms, Ideas and People
Introduction	Current research in child development focusing on: Non-cognitive skills Personality traits Character
Chapter 1 How to Fail (and How Not To)	Elizabeth Dozier, Principal – Fenger High School Nadine Burke Harris – doctor   Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) – childhood trauma related to adult health – body’s physical reaction to stress   51% of children who scored high on ACE scale had trouble in school   Prefrontal cortex – part of brain affected by early stress – this area also controls emotional and cognitive self-regulatory activities (executive function)   High quality mothering can protect children from trauma and stress
Chapter 2 How to Build Character	KIPP – Knowledge is Power Program – David Levin - students did well while there but faltered when at new school. Those who succeeded not necessarily the brightest but had other qualities such as optimism and resilience   Martin Seligman – Learned Optimism Pessimists react to negative events  as if they are permanent, personal and pervasive Optimists react to negative events as if they are specific, limited and have short-term explanations   Angela Duckworth Christopher Peterson   Marshmallow test – child able to delay gratification better when they created their own distractions, thought about goal more abstractly However, this did not work in academics.  Students found it hard to delay gratification when goals are abstract.  Duckworth divides achievement into motivation and volition (will power or self-control).   M&M incentive – lower students increased IQ test scores when receiving M&Ms as reward for right answers.  This also did not work in academics.  Most “reward” programs did not produce positive results.    Seven strengths that will likely predict high academic achievement and satisfaction in life (Peterson): Grit Self-control Zest Social intelligence Gratitude Optimism Curiosity  MCII – Mental Contrasting with Implementation Intentions Three goal-setting stages: 1. Optimists – imagine future 2. Pessimists – dwelling on obstacles 3. Mental Contrasting – focus on positive while planning for obstacles ***Relates to 2013’s book, Making Hope Happen, by Shane J. Lopez, Ph.D.   Group Identify – Stereotype Threat – can have positive or negative effect on achievement   Carol Dweck – students do better if they believe they can improve their intelligence instead of believing it is fixed   Jane Martinez Dowling –KIPP Through College
Chapter 3 How to Think	Chess Elizabeth Spiegel  - teaching executive function through chess Self-analysis - analyze mistakes – what could have been done differently   Difference between “wanting” something and “choosing it” – makes difference in behavior and determination   Confirmation bias (confirm correct answer) vs. falsification (look for information to disprove answer) – Falsification is a skill characteristic of best chess players   Malcolm Gladwell – 10,000 hours to become expert in any field   James Black – chess master – smart at chess but not in academics – could not make up what he had missed earlier in school
Chapter 4 How to Succeed	United States has fallen from 1st to 12th worldwide in percentage of 25 – 34 year olds who are graduates of four-year colleges   1990 >> 2000 - Rate of bachelor degree attainment: Wealthy families with at least one parent with college degree: 61% >> 68% Disadvantaged families with no parent with college degree: 11.1% >> 9.5%   Problem no longer access to college – now concern is completion   William G. Bowen, Michael S. McPherson, Matthew Chingos Studied college completion High School GPA most accurate predictor of success Better measure of self-control, motivation, perseverance, good study and time management habits   Jeff Nelson – OneGoal – goal is from high school to successful  college attempt Found that effective teacher important to successful transition   Time college students spend studying: 1961 – 24 hours/week 1981 – 20 hours per week 2003 – 14 hours per week This is an opportunity for disadvantaged students to make up lost learning
Chapter 5 A Better Path	Socioeconomic status predicts academic success   Focus switched from poverty to educational reform – focus now on teacher quality and tenure   According to Tough, the real issue is how to improve the life chances of millions of impoverished children.  Many school reform ideas work well with impoverished, able students but not with impoverished least-able students   Poor children usually have high ACE scores

For discussion:
1. Do you agree with the author’s ideas?  Why or why not?
2. Do you have Grit?  How did you develop it?
3. How do you define “character” in relation to academics and/or success in life?
4. How important do you think mistakes are to learning and to success?
5. Was there any idea that was particularly interesting to you?
6. Do you currently do anything to help your students gain non-cognitive skills for success? 
7. What can we do in our colleges and classrooms to help students gain these characteristics?
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available from wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

The Burgess Boys, by Elizabeth Strout

Updated November 2016

Characters
Burgess Family	Shirley Falls	New York
Jim – corporate attorney Bob – legal-aid attorney Susan – Bob’s twin, optometrist Zachary Olson – Susan’s son Barbara – mother, deceased Helen – Jim’s wife Pam – Bob’s 1st wife, former parasitological research assistant Ted – husband Twin sons Margaret Estaver – Bob’s 2nd wife – Unitarian Minister	Mrs. Drinkwater – Susan’s tenant Gerry O’Hara – police chief Charlie Tibbetts – local lawyer Diane Dodge – DA’s office – Civil Rights Rick Huddleston	Dorothy and Alan – couple Jim and Helen vacationed with,  Jim’s boss Adriana Martic – Bob’s neighbor, affair with Jim and sexual harassment charge
	Somalis
	Abdikarim Ahmed – abandoned by younger wife and children, championed for Zachary Omed – translator at hospital Haweeya - wife

 For discussion:

NOTE:  All page numbers refer to the paperback edition of the book.

1. Did you like the introduction of the mother and daughter talking about the Burgess family?  Did the help or hinder your understanding of the book?  Why did the author decide to start the story that way?

2. Discuss the Burgess family dynamics:

*Bob (4 years old) always thinking he caused accident that killed their father

*Jim never telling Bob truth about their father’s accidental death (page 225)

*Their mother taking her anger out on Susan

*Susan and Jim always calling Bob stupid and other insults

3. Discuss Jim’s behavior in hotel room at end of vacation where Helen overhead him yelling at Bob the way his neighbor in Shirley Falls yelled.  How did Helen react to this scene?

4. On page 272 Bob realized he was no longer welcome at Helen and Jim's house.  Why was this?

5. On the following page, 273, when Bob ran into Jim on the street before Bob knew what was happening, Jim said, "Bob, I have to be really straight here.  You have always made me crazy.  I am tired of you, Bob.  I am so fucking tired of you.  Of your Bobness.  I an so - Bob, I just want you gone,  Jesus, please go."  Was this fair?  What did he mean by "his Bobness?"

6. On page 287, when Jim's affair was discovered and he was talking with Helen, he said, "I was supposed to take care of everyone.  Growing up.  That was my job."  Do you think that was explicitly stated or did Jim just take on that role?  Did he ever really take care of the family?

7. On page 83, what did Pam mean when she was reading about Shirley Falls and the parasitological and psychological concerns of the refugees and thought, "I am living the wrong life."?  Was anyone else in the book learning the wrong life?

8. To Abdikarim, the policemen’s laugh when they first saw the pig’s head was significant.  Why?  Why do you think they laughed?

9. What were the positive results that came about because of Zach’s actions?  Would they have happened otherwise?

10. What insights did you gain about the immigrant experience from this book?  How would you feel in a strange place where no one understood your language or your customs? 

11. Discuss the contrast between the American value in looking someone in the eye when speaking contrasted to the Somalis’ belief that to look someone in the eye is rude and disrespectful?  How can two such diverse cultures co-exist?

12. What was your reaction when the newspaper published a picture of Zach smiling as he first left the police station?

13. Do you think Zach should have been prosecuted of what he did?  Why do you think he did it?

14. What do you think happened to Jim at the end of the novel?

15. Who was the happiest person in the book?

16. Which character did you feel the most sympathy for?  The least sympathy? 

*****

First Semester Success: :Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

The Given Day, by Dennis Lehane

Characters
Irish Community and Boston Police	African American Community	Revolutionaries	Babe Ruth
Coughlin Family Aiden/Danny Tommy – father, Police Captain Connor – son, lawyer Ellen – mother Joe – youngest son   Daniel Sante – Danny’s undercover name   Eddie McKenna – uncle, Lieutenant   Nora – housekeeper, engaged to Connor, married Danny Quentin Finn – husband in Ireland   Steve Coyle – Danny’s partner, disabled   Mark Denton – head of BSC   Steven O’Meara – police commissioner, died   Edwin Upton Curtis – new commissioner, fired, reinstated by Coolidge   Rayme Finch – government agent   Gov. Calvin Coolidge John Hoover James Jackson Stover – president, GM	Luther Laurence Lila – wife Desmond - son   Club Almighty: Deacon, Dandy  – killed by Luther Jesse – friend – killed by others Smoke – left alive   Isaiah Giddreaux Yvette – wife   Clayton Tomes – working with Luther on NAACP building – killed by McKenna	Federico Ficara – killed by Danny Tessa Ficara – wife, affair with Danny   Nathan Bishop   Louis Fraina Pyotr Glaviach – driver, body guard   Luigi Galleani	Helen – wife   Johnny Igoe – agent   Harry Frazee – owner, Boston Red Sox

 For Discussion:

NOTE:  All page numbers refer to the paperback edition of the book

1. Thinking about the events that transpired in Tulsa that ended up with him killing Deacon, Luther reflected that “It took only a second for another to arrive on the same path as yours and change your life to a point it couldn’t change back.  One second.”  (Chapter 23, page 388).   Did the same thing happen to anyone else in the novel?  Have you met anyone who changed your life in a minute?

2. When Luther had the flat tire and was picked up by Bernard and Cully, they were talking about the war and how Germany was going to lose 15% of its coal and 50% of steel production because of “backing the play of a friend.”  They were talking about friends and how “you don’t pick friends.  You find each other.”  (Chapter 11, page 203)  How have you met your friends?  How did you meet the people you are discussing this book with?

3. Babe Ruth liked life during baseball season because everything was planned for him, he did not have to make any decisions.  Can you relate?

4. Why was Babe Ruth included in the novel?    What was the author’s point with the opening story where Babe Ruth and his teammates played a baseball game with Luther and his friends?

5. Why did Nathan Bishop save Danny during the May Day riot when the teenager was going to shoot him?

6. Eddie McKenna described Danny as having “’fair’ in your head now…You think it is attainable.  You do.  I can see it.”  (Chapter 18, page 327).  How is this an accurate description of Danny?  How did his desire for fairness change the way he acted and lived?

7. Why did Joe run away the first time and again during the riots?

8. What role did the press play in the riots?  For example, the press had heard reports that Major Peters wanted the State Guard at the beginning but Curtis denied the request.  (Chapter 39, page 666)  Then Coolidge lied about this and the press took his word and published the incorrect story.

8a. How does this relate to an earlier comment by Rayme Finch to Thomas Coughlin regarding the false suspicion that the molasses tank explosion was a terrorist act when he stated “People don’t want the truth, they want certainty.  Or the illusion of it.”  (Chapter 29, page 491)

9. Why do you think everyone rioted when the police went on strike?

10.Do you think Danny was to blame for everything including Connor’s blindness?

11. Do you think Danny and Nora will ever be welcomed back into the Coughlin family?

12. How did you like this book?  Was it enjoyable, disturbing or a mixture of both?

13. Live by Night (2012) continues the story of the Coughlins with Joe now a gangster being released from jail.  Does this story development surprise you?  Why do you think Joe turned to a life of crime when he came from a family of policemen and lawyers?

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Characters
September 9, 1958, 10:58 AM  - 1963	2011
George Amberson – Jake Eppling   Yellow Card Man (Kyle) Green Card Man (Zach Lang from Seattle)   Sadie Clayton - librarian Johnny Clayton – husband Sadie’s parents   Denholm Consolidated High School: Mimi Corcoran - librarian Deke Simmons – principal Ellen Docherty – Home Ec., acting principal   Lee Harvey Oswald Marina – wife Robert – brother Marguerite – mother   George de Mohrenschildt General Edwin Walker   George Bouhe – helped Marina   Frank Dunning Wife – Doris Harry – son Ellen, Arthur (Tugga), Troy – children   Bill Turcotte – “No Suspenders”   Richie and Beverly – dancers   Andy Cullum – accidentally shot Carolyn Poulin Mamie – wife	Jake Epping   Al Templeton   Harry Dunning   Carolyn Poulin

For discussion:
NOTE:  All page numbers are from the hardback edition.


In 2011
1. If Harry Dunning had a choice, which of his three life scenarios do you think he would have chosen?


2. Would you have gone down the “rabbit hole?”  Why or why not?


3. Why did the Yellow Card Man call Jake “Jimla” the first time he saw him?


In 1958 - 1963
4. What did you think was the purpose of the Yellow Card Man and the others that followed?  What did they add to the . story?   King explained their purpose at the very end (pages 794 – 798). 


5. Why do you think Richie, Beverly, Mamie Cullum, and the man in the wheelchair on West Neely Street (page 490) all seemed to know that George was different?


6. If you were Sadie, would you go to the future with George? 


General discussion:
7. On page 312, Stephen King gave the reader some help to follow along when he wrote, “We’re going to take another leap forward in time (narratives also contain rabbit-holes…”  Were you able to follow along with the time line of the book?  Why or why not?


8. Did the fact that you lived through this period in history make any difference in your reading as opposed to historical fiction set before you were born?


9. How well did Stephen King portray the early 1960s?
*Ship N Shore blouse (page 629)
*Dr. Ellerton sharing medical information with Sadie’s friends (no Hippa laws!)
*Miss Caltrop worrying about the morality of the school’s faculty (page 616-617, 644)


10.George/Jake noted often that the past harmonizes with itself or that history repeats itself.  One example is the similarity of Sadie’s name with Doris Dunning.  Do you think this is an accurate observation?  Do you have any examples from your life?


11. Did this novel make you think about the effect you might have on others that you are not aware of?


12. Do you think King’s idea of the results of changing history was accurate?  Consider Harry Dunning, Sadie and the world in general.


13. Did you like the ending?  Why or why not?
*****
First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.

A Spy Among Friends, by Ben Macintyre

The following review was posted on Blogging for Books:

I was intrigued by A Spy Among Friends, by Ben Macintyre, but resisted reading it because I was afraid I did not have enough political and historical background knowledge to follow the story.  This concern proved to be unfounded.  I enjoyed the story and had no trouble following the context.  The only difficulty I encountered was with the numerous names and following the time line.  I would have liked a few more dates included in the story to help me keep track of where I was in time.  But aside from that, this is a fascinating story and interesting character study.    I felt that knowing the ending was a plus because it made each person’s actions all the more interesting.    I couldn’t help but put myself in Elliott and Angleton’s position regarding their friendship with Kim Philby and wonder how I would feel and react.  The sentence on page 15 about how easy it is to fool someone if you are telling them what they want to hear was very insightful and a good life’s lesson.    I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story mixed with intrigue, history and insightful character studies.  You can read the author’s bio as well as find the other books he has written at www.randonhouse.com. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books for my review.

People
Kim Philby	Nicholas Elliott	James Jesus Angleton
Wives: Alice “Litzi” Kohlman Aileen – Munchausen Eleanor Brewer Rufina Ivanovna   Father – St. John – Arab scholar, writer, explorer   Career: 1941 – head of Netherlands department, Soviet code name “Sonny” Recommended Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess to Soviets 1944 – M16 Station Chief in Switzerland 1946 – M16 Station Chief in Turkey 1949 – M16 Station Chief in Washington D. C. *Had access to all CIA and M16 information – passed on to Soviets June 1951 – first under suspicion, defended by Elliott and Angleton Resigned/fired 1955 – Press conference – amazing ability to lie 1956 – freelance correspondent in Beirut for Observer and Economist, agent for M16 1963 – confronted by Elliott, defected to Russia	Father – Sir Claude Aurelius Elliott – headmaster at Eton   Elizabeth Holberton - wife   Career: 1941 – head of Iberian Department 1942 – to Turkey 1959 – to Beirut 1962 – to London 1968 – Director of Requirements at M16 1968 - retired 1980s – unofficial adviser on intelligence to Margaret Thatcher	American   Career: 1944 – To Rome, reporting to Philby 1947 – to Washington D. C. – oversee espionage and counter-intelligence with Office of Special Operations (OSS) 1949 – Chief of Staff A – command of foreign intelligence operations *regular lunches with Philby 1974 – forced out of CIA – suspected everyone after learning truth about Philby
Others
Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess – recommended to Soviets by Philby (friends from Cambridge) 1951 – Maclean discovered and both he and Burgess escaped to Russia   Commander Lionel “Buster” Crabb 1956 – underwater surveillance of soviet ship – Soviets tipped off – Crabb killed – truth covered up – this was Elliott’s plan but he was not fired   Flora Soloman – Philby tried to recruit her in 1935 – she told Lord Rothchild about this in 1962   Jona von Ustinov “Klop” – German journalist opposed to Nazism   Ian Flemming – went to same school as Elliott

For Discussion:

NOTE: All pages refer to hardback edition of book.

1. At one point early in his career after an espionage plan failed, Elliott reflected that it had been “an object lesson in how highly intelligent people could be duped if persuaded to believe what they most wanted to believe.”  (page 15)  How did Philby’s career confirm that statement?

2. What was the influence of the “club atmosphere” and their upbringing on Elliott and Philby?

3. Were you surprised that there was so much drinking?  Do you think it is the same today?

4. What did you think about the two men’s education and training to work in espionage?  Are there special talents or skills necessary for this type of work?  Are the skills different now compared to then?

5. Discuss the similarities in the childhood of Philby and Elliott, particularly their fathers.  Both “lived under the shadow of imposing but distant fathers whose approval they longed for but never quite won.” (page 22)

6. The author described Philby by writing, “he enjoyed deception” and “he was addicted to spying” and as someone who valued “only one opinion, his own.”   (page 215) How does this description explain Philby’s actions?

7. The book mentioned that Philby was always adored by his children. (page 218)  Why do you think this was the case as he was away so much and they were sent to boarding schools?

8. Philby’s betrayal deeply affected those close to him?  How do you think you would have felt if he were your close friend?

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at wordassociation.com and amazon.com.