Showing posts with label Forum discussion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forum discussion. Show all posts

Friday, March 9, 2012

The Rose of Winslow Street Discussion Guide

I've always wanted to answer the discussion questions found inside the books. They are so interactive with the book, and designed for reading groups. I think half of the fun in those questions is sharing the answers with other people. 

I don't belong to a book club, and with the amount of books I have to review, I wouldn't be able to do a book club. So I figured that we could all answer the questions. If this works out well, we can do it regularly. 


How it works:

I will post the questions from the back of the book. If you've read the book, or even if you haven't read the book, feel free to answer any or as many of the questions that you want to. 

To answer one of the questions, comment on the post below. When you comment, make sure to put the question number before your answer so all of us will know which question you're answering. 


Warning: If you haven't read the book, there may be some spoilers. 

Feel free to interact with each other and get to know one another through these fun questions. 


Book




The Rose of Winslow Street by Elizabeth Camden 


Discussion Questions 


1. Libby feels flawed because of her illiteracy, but learns to accept herself by the end of the book. Do you have a physical or psychological characteristic with which you struggle? Have you ever considered if there may be an upside to the problematic trait?

2. Early in the novel, Michael instructs his children not to run from a fight. Given the circumstances, was this the right thing to do? Would his advice have been difficult if he had daughters rather than sons?

3. The townspeople were sympathetic to Professor Sawyer's claim to the house and proceeded to shun Michael and his family. It was peaceful, nonviolent way to support Professor Sawyer, but do you think there may have been a better way?

4. A big theme in this book is how to treat people who are different from us, be it a different culture, level of intelligence, gender, or even outward demeanor. Why do people tend to distrust those who are different?

5. Libby's father is a frustrated difficult man, yet she feels an instinctive loyalty to him. Does there come a point at which a Christian should disengage from a parent of problematic relative? 

6. Understanding his father's need for perfection, Jasper knew the professor would never file patents on any of his inventions. Jasper believed he was protecting his father when he secretly submitted the paperwork to patent the inventions. Was he right to do so?

7. For much of the novel, Libby felt limited by her illiteracy and Mirela felt defined by her brutal rape. Have you ever felt defined by a tragic event? How were you able to overcome it?

8. Does Mirela have a happy ending or is she making the best of her circumstances? Girls are often raised to view marriage as the culmination of their ambitions, but can a celibate life be a truly fulfilling option?

9. Micheal's first marriage was brokered between two sets of parents. Arranged marriages are still common in a many parts of the world, and often work well. Why is that? Have you ever known anyone who was part of an arranged marriage?

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Not Until I Read About It (Forum Discussion)

No one can tell me that settings in stories aren't important. They just may be the single most important part of novels. Something about a great setting can help define a book. With that said, a well written book can awaken a desire inside the reader to actually want to visit the setting.

I know there are plenty of places that I never dreamed of visiting until I read about them in novels. Take for instance . . . 


I never even batted an eye at the mention of the Biltmore Mansion. But after reading, Maid to Match, I'm doing everything I can to take a day trip to Asheville and tour the beautiful American castle.
















Or take for instance this place. . . 


I used to truly believe Colorado had to be the most boring state in the USA. I even used to tease my sister about wanting to move out there when she grew up. Then I read Tamera Alexander's Fountain Creek Chronicles and Timber Ridge Reflections series. Now, I'm hoping to honeymoon there when I finally find the right guy who also wants to head to the Rockies. 



And last but not least, the place where I truly hope to go one day after reading this fantastic series . . .





Yes, ever since reading Liz Curtis Higgs' Lowlands of Scotland series, I have determined that I will one day explore the beautiful castles and land of Scotland. 















So, what novels have changed your perspective on an area or place and stirred a sudden desire to visit it?

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

"What Are You Doing There?"

The other day I stared at the tv, watching NCIS: LA. While I've watched the show a dozen or more times, a fresh awareness hit me as I stared at Chris O'Donnell's face on the screen. That face, somehow, had been very familiar at one point in time, and I'd seen it somewhere .. . . just not in Batman Forever. . . but somewhere else.

As I churned through my mind, attempting to pull out the index of all movies Chris O'Donnell that might be stored inside there, it suddenly hit me. The familiarity of his features wasn't from any movie he played in. 

Somehow, I had unknowingly cast this man as the male character in my favorite fiction novel. I'm talking about Jack Brennan from Tamera Alexander's Remembered. It's as though Chris O'Donnell had taken over Jack Brennan's body and stole his looks--how dare he! . . . Either that, or Jack Brennan jumped out of Remembered and started living as Chris O'Donnell. It was enough to make me sit back and wonder, "Jack Brennan, what are you doing on NCIS: LA?"


Jack Brennan


Just imagine him with the same amount of hair he had in Batman and Robin and that is how I pictured Jack Brennan. 

And Veronique Girard. . . ? This is how I pictured her. Again, while watching a movie, I saw the actress and instantly recognized her as Veronique.
                                          


Veronique Girard


So I'm wondering . . . has this ever happened to you? Have you ever been watching a show and suddenly there is the face of the beloved character from your favorite book? . . .or maybe even a book that you've just read.

If you could cast characters in your favorite book, who would play them?

Saturday, October 15, 2011

When Books Become Movies

I have to be honest, here. I'm not a big fan of turning books into movies. While I love Anne of Green Gables, and I think the first two movies were wonderful, I felt like my heart had been stomped on when I watched the third installment. Since then, I've determined that some books should remain just that--books. Why? Well . . . movies really can't capture the essence of a great book. 


With that said, however, I think some novels translate easily onto the big screen. I believe those novels are rare, but that they do exist. In fact, I would love to see a few books I've enjoyed somehow make their way  into movie format. 


Here are two I would love to see made into movies one day:











These stories just seem to have that necessary factor that somehow may send a powerful message regardless of the audience's personal preferences. 


So my question for you is, what novels do you think could also make great movies, or even what novels would you even like to see on the big screen?





Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Are Christian Romance Novels Harmful? Forum Discussion

While I usually try to post something spiritual about once a week, this time I've decided to do something different. Instead of writing something, I'd like to get your personal opinion on an issue.

During Bible study last night, the question came up on whether romance novels (Christian) are harmful.  One person flat out said Chrisitan romance novels cause people to sin and force sexual thoughts into people's minds. Another asked if romance novels can paint an unhealthy and unrelatistic picture of what true love looks like.

Since I write historical romance, I obviously took the side of the debate that said romance novels in themselves are not sinful. It's true that anything can cause anyone to sin, but to point to romance novels as a stumbling block is to cast blame on the wrong person. Of course, the question about whether those same novels are harmful or not, may be something different. 

As a single woman, I do sometimes feel like romance novels portray a relationship between two people that moves faster than I would ever long for in my own relationships. Then again, I'm very aware of the fact that I'm reading fiction--and fiction is not meant to portray reality as it is. I also see that sometimes a non-Christian and Christian begin to form a relationship, and I know that in real-life, as a single woman, that screams "Danger."

Yet, at the same time, I've learned a great deal about true love from romance novels.

I'd really love to hear your thoughts on this. If you'd like to share your opinion, then stop by the forum and look under the thread titled "Are Christian Romance Novels Harmful?"

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