The White Queen, Phillippa Gregory

People/Characters
Rivers Family	King Edward IV’s Family
Lady Elizabeth Grey Husband – Sir John Grey – deceased Sons: Thomas Richard              Father – Sir Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers – captured and beheaded Mother – Lady Rivers Siblings: Anthony – wife Elizabeth Scales – Lordship Isle of Wright John – married Lady Neville (elderly) - captured and beheaded Lionel – bishop Richard Katherine – betrothed to Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham   Melusina – half fish, half woman	King Edward IV Mother – Duchess of Cecily Siblings: Richard – youngest - Duke of Gloucester – married Anne Neville George – Duke of Clarence – married Isabel Neville – plotted to become king Anne – Elizabeth – Margaret – Duchess of Burgundy   William Hastings - friend
Elizabeth and Edward IV newest whore in 1476Daughters: Elizabeth, Cecily, Anne, Catherine, Bridget Edward, Prince of Wales Richard – Peter, Piers George – died at 2 years   Elizabeth Shore – Edward’s
Others
Richard Neville – Earl of Warwick Daughters: Isabel – married George Anne – married Richard   King Henry – dethroned Queen Margaret D’Anjou – exiled   Lord Thomas Stanley Margaret Beaufort Son: Henry Tutor   Henry Stafford – Duke of Buckingham

For discussion:
NOTE: Page numbers are from Touchstone 2013 paperback edition.

1. Discuss the role of women and the respect they are publically and privately granted. 
2. How much power did women actually have as they manipulated the men behind the scenes?
3. Discuss Elizabeth’s evolution throughout the novel.  What was her goal when she first met Edward?  How did she change after she became queen?   Would she have been happier if she had just gotten her land back and stayed with her family?
4. On page 93 King Edward muses that “It is easy to blame the wife.  It is always easier to accuse the queen of being a bad influence than to declare yourself against the king.  They want to destroy you and your family.”  Has this tactic been used elsewhere in history?  What about currently?
5. Do you think Elizabeth and her mother really had magical powers?  On page 119 it says that they “blew up a storm” and at one point Elizabeth ties Richard Neville’s napkin around her arm and curses him with loss of strength in his arm.
6. What was the point of Melusina in the story?
7. On page 154 Edward explains that he always felt invincible but that now he has felt fear.  He states, “It is a fool who is afraid of nothing….And a brave man is one who knows fear and rides out and faces it.”   Can you relate as a teenager and now as an adult?  Which is better – to feel fear or not?  What is the advantage of each?
8. In the author’s notes, Gregory states that “There is more fiction in this novel than in my previous ones, since we are further back in time…”  She specifically noted this includes what happened to Prince Richard (page 410).  Did you want to know what was real and what was fiction?  
9. Discuss your reading experience.  Did you have difficulty keeping the names and titles straight?  What characters did you feel most connected to?

*****

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

The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry, by Gabrielle Zevin

NOTE: I loved this book!  A book about reading and the importance of books can't be missed!

Characters

A. J. Fikry – Island Books Nic – deceased wife Maya – adopted daughter Amelia Loman – Book rep   Brett Brewer – Amelia’s fiancé   Marian Wallace –Maya’s mother   Ismay Evans-Parish – Nic’s sister Daniel Parish – husband – author –A. J.’s best friend   Chief Lambiase

For discussion:
NOTE: All pages refer to the paperback edition of the book.

1. What do you think Lambiase should have done when he found the stolen book in Ismay's closet?  At that point in the story, what did you think had happened?
2. On page 216, when A.J.'s mother is giving everyone an ereader, she says to A.J. that he has a "moue."  Did you know what that was?
3. What did you think of A.J.'s reaction to the ereader?
4. On page 46 the customer wants a refund for The Book Thief because "it kept her up all night reading" and made her cry.  How soon in your reading did you know what book she was talking about?  What did you think of her reactions to the book?
5. What did you think of the description of Maya's approach to books - smelling them and trying to figure out the pictures?  Do you think her learning to read the word "red" is typical of children?
6. On page 87 A.J. write, "You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, 'What is your favorite book?'" Do you agree?  What is your favorite book and what does that say about you?
7. On page 92 A.J. says, 'Sometimes books don't find us until the right time."  Have you ever read the same book at two different times in your life and had different reading experiences?  Explain.
8. On their date A.J. and Amelia talk about food in books.  Do you have a memorable meal you read about in a book that you would like to eat?  Did you have any reactions to descriptions of food in books?
9. Why do you think Maya never warmed up to Ismay?
10. What was your favorite part of the book?  Your least favorite?
11. Discuss your reading experience.  Did you like the book?  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 amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right link.