Meeting # 4 Water For Elephants

Four meetings! I am so proud! Our numbers have been growing a bit,and I know we have all really been enjoying the meetings! We gave ourselves a bit more time to read this time, and as holiday scheduling can be rough and busy, it was much needed. This months selection is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. The meeting will be held at my home so that we can have a potluck brunch and watch the movie to compare to the novel. Sweatpants & pillows encouraged! Bring a brunch dish to share! Sunday, December 4th, 10:30 A.M.

Book Questions for our descussion are listed below! See you there! WARNING: Spoiler alert, if you havent finished the book, go read!! then come back :)


1:Water for Elephants moves between a story about a circus and a story about an old man in a nursing home. How do the chapters about the older Jacob enrich the story about Jacob’s adventure with the circus? How would the novel be different if Gruen had only written about the younger Jacob, keeping the story linear and never describing Jacob’s life as an old man?

2:Did the chapters about the nursing home change how you think about older people? In what ways are the doctors and nurses condescending? How is Rosemary different? How do you treat older people?

3: In chapter two, the twenty-three year old Jacob starts his story by telling us he is a virgin. From the cooch tent to the erections the older Jacob gets when being bathed, sexuality is woven into the whole story. Why do you think Gruen added these details? What role does sexuality play in Water for Elephants?

4: When you first read the Prologue, who did you think murdered the man? Were you surprised by who the actual murderer was?

5: The book begins with a quote from Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss: “I meant what I said, and I said what I meant…An elephant’s faithful—one hundred percent!” What is the role of faithfulness and loyalty in Water for Elephants? How do different characters define loyalty? (Jacob, Walter, Uncle Al).

6: Why does Jacob get so mad about Mr. McGuinity lying about carrying water for elephants? Do you see and similarities of temperament between the young Jacob and the old Jacob?

7: In what ways is Water for Elephants a survival story? A love story? An adventure?

8: Water for Elephants has a happy ending for Jacob, but not for many other characters. Discuss Walter and Camel’s fates. How does tragedy fit into the story?

9: There is an “us and them” mentality in the circus between performers and workers. How does Jacob bridge these two classes of people? Why does each group hate another group? Does the circus merely mirror society in an exaggerated way?

10: Are you satisfied with the end?

11: In the Author’s Note, Gruen writes that many of the details in the story are factual or come from circus workers’ anecdotes. These true stories include the hippo pickled in formaldehyde, the deceased fat lady being paraded through town and an elephant who repeatedly pulled out her stake and stole lemonade. Gruen did extensive research before writing Water for Elephants. Was her story believable?







**please note, our next meeting will be Sunday, January 8th, 2012!! please mark the day off in your planners!

Book Club Meeting #3 & The Cottage in La Jolla

We all agreed, this October's book selection, The Pact, was our favorite read thus far in the club. We discussed the extremely interesting storyline and also the different points of view each character in the book represented. We addressed this book using a question list-listed for your review below!


Book club discussion questions for The Pact
1.How do you feel the extended family environment created by the Hartes and the Golds affected their children? Did it contribute to Emily's suicide?
2.Is there such a thing as being too close to another non-blood relative family?
3.How do you feel Chris handled his guilt? Can he justify helping Emily commit suicide?
4.How did the marital relationships of the Golds and the Hartes contribute to Gus's and Michael's temptations?
5.Is Emily correct in believing she had no other alternatives to suicide? Explain.
6.Is Melanie justified in her feelings and actions toward the Hartes following Emily's death? What might justify her behavior?
7.On page 35 is the following statement: "Chris and Emily had grown up with love, with wealth, and with each other. What more could they have needed?" Comment.
8.In what ways does jail change Chris? In what ways does he benefit from the experience, and in what ways does it hurt him?
9.Where do you see these characters in five years?
10.Is the punishment meted out to Chris just? In your opinion, is Chris guilty of murder?
11.What is the significance of the "blank"piece of paper that Chris finds in the tin can at the end of the book?

One of our main members, Donna, couldn't make it but posted the following comments on our facebook wall. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150384572761630.351611.608371629&type=3#!/groups/282804055079614/

"I loved the book, and even though I'm biased because I'm a fan of the author, I'm always impressed by her insightfulness into family situations and character's thoughts. Her thorough research definitely shined through on this book, with the medical aspects, courtroom, detectives, lawyers, etc. It really makes a difference and adds to the credibility of the plot and characters.
I could relate to Emily's issue with how ashamed and embarrassed she felt about what happened when she was a kid not being able to tell even Chris so I got really into this book. I loved all the twists and turns in the story and drama of course haha. It's so sad how people feel they have no other way out besides ending their life and the author painted those dark thoughts really well I thought"

We all thoroughly enjoyed the authors writing style and perspective. Our most successful meeting to date! and a special welcome and thanks for attending to Rachelle & Julie! What great additions to the group!!

Onto the FOOD.




The Cottage in La Jolla was a delight, worth the wait, and there IS a wait, but adorable with excellent service once we were seated. Pictures below! Menu items include Stuffed French Toast and delish hot chocolate!