BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
Gumption: Lessons on Old Age, Loneliness, and a Hotdish by Faye Berger
GUMPTION TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Overall – how did you experience Gumption while reading it? Were you immediately drawn into the story, or did it take awhile? Did Gumption intrigue, amuse, disturb, inspire, or sadden you?
2. Do you find the characters convincing? Are they believable? Compelling? Are they fully developed as complex, emotional human beings?
3. Which characters do you admire or dislike? What are their primary characteristics?
4. What motivates Russ’ actions? What about the actions of the other members of The Gang? Do you think those actions are justified?
5. Do any characters grow or change during the course of the story? If so, in what way?
6. Who in Gumption would you most like to meet? What would you ask – or say?
7. If you could insert yourself as a character in Gumption, what role would you play?
8. Is the plot well-developed? Is it believable? Do you feel manipulated along the way, or do events unfold naturally?
9. Is Gumption driven by plot or character? In other words, does the plot unfold quickly or focus more on characters’ inner lives?
10. What impact does WWII have on the lives of the characters?
11. How do the characters adjust for their different life experiences in their new social group, The Gang?
12. How might the story be different if all were able drivers?
13. How might a similar group of women focus their time together?
14. Consider the ending. Did you expect it or were you surprised? Was it forced? Was it neatly wrapped up – too neatly? Or was it unresolved, ending on an ambiguous note?
15. If you could rewrite the ending, would you?
16. Can you pick out a passage that strikes you as particularly profound or interesting – or perhaps something that sums up the central dilemma of Gumption?
17. Does Gumption remind you of someone – a friend, family member, co-worker, boss – or something – an event, problem – in your own life?
18. If you were to talk to the author, what would you want to know?
Finding Foxholes: A World War II Infantry Route Then...and 48 years Later
by Faye Berger
FINDING FOXHOLES TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
1. What is the central idea of the book? What issues or ideas does the author explore?
2. Do the issues affect your life or someone close to you?
3. What evidence does the author use to support the book’s idea?
4. Consider the format of the book with the two time periods: Does it flow?
5. Is the author’s language objective or passionate? How about the language of Private Albrecht?
6. Are any long or short term issues raised?
7. What are the book’s strengths?
8. What have you learned from reading the book? Has it broadened your perspective about sharing stories, family dynamics, WWII history, veteran issues?
9. Have you learned anything about yourself by reading the book?
10. Share a specific passage or scene from the book that left an impression on you.
11. What role do photographs and maps play in the book?
12. If you were able to talk to the author, what would you want to know?
