The Starless Sea, Erin Morgenstern

 

Characters	Sweet Sorrows – book 1
Zackary Ezra Rawlins – Emerging Media studies Madame Love Rawlins – mother, fortune teller   Katrina “Kat” Hawkins – invited Zachary to speak to student group   Female English major- knitter – attended Emerging Media discussion   Elena – library   J. S.  Keating – estate donated book to library   Dorian – met at library Collector’s Club   Mirabel “Max” – Simon’s daughter, granddaughter of J. S. Keating, paints doors   Allegra Cavallo – polar bear lady at party   Rhyme – acolyte, the only one who stayed (page 247)   The Kitchen   The Keeper   Innkeeper and wife	Pirate Acolyte Son of fortune teller Dollhouse Guardians Girl – opened door in ground, falls into starless sea Doors Keepers Man wondering
	Fortunes and Fables – book 2
	The Star Merchant The Keeper The Key Collector Girl – daughter of princess and blacksmith The Owl King Innkeeper – two guests, the moon and sun Sword Smith Story Sculptor
	The Ballad of Simon and Eleanor – book 3
	Eleanor – small girl with door knocker Simon Jonathan Keating Jocelyn Simone Keating – mother, deceased, unmarried Uncle and Aunt – raised Simon Baby - Mirabel
	Written in the Stars – book 4
	The Owl King – book 5
	The Secret Diary of Katrina Hawkins – book 6

 

For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the hardback edition.

1.       What parts did Mirabel and the Keeper play in the novel?  In the end, did they control everything?

2.       What parts do the bees and the cat play in the story?

3.       The first three sections or books were actual books people read and shared.  Section 6 was Katrina’s handwritten diary.  Book 4 has excerpts of text written on paper stars.  Book 5 is all narrative.  Did you find the story hard to follow at times?

4.       Two “real” books mentioned in the novel are by Donna Tartt.  When asked, Dorian told the waitress The Secret History was good, she replied “I started the bird one but I couldn’t get into it” (page 267).  Why do you think the author mentioned those books?

5.       At the Emerging Media discussion, Zachary compares books and video games and states that “Proper text stories are preexisting narratives to fall into, games unfold as you go” (page 35).  Do you see a comparison between the two?

6.       Further into the discussion the topic turns to what makes a story compelling.  Some of the ideas mentioned were change, mystery, character growth, obstacles, romance, etc.   What makes a story compelling to you?  What topics generally draw you into a story?

7.       Furthering the discussion on stories, the group talked about the meaning of what you are reading and thought that it is “what you bring to it, even if you don’t make the choices along the way, you decide what it means to you” (pages 35 & 36).   Have you ever disagreed with a friend about what a book is about?  Or have you read a book at different times in your life and found different meanings?

8.       What did you think the themes were in this novel?

9.       What were some of your favorite parts of the book?  I particularly liked The Kitchen and wish I could have one!

10.   Reflect back on your reading experience with this novel.  If you read it over a longer period of time, were you able to follow the story line?  Did you continue to think about the book after you finished it?

11.   Would you open a door drawn on a wall?