Discuss the irony of Kurt Nealon telling June that “people are never who you think they are”. (3)
Michael says it is easier to say someone deserves to die for what they did than it is to take the responsibility to make that happen. How do you think you would feel in his position? Have you ever been in that position?
After Shay is brought to I-tier, several “miracles” occur: Smythe’s baby is cured; the water changes to wine; Shay revives the robin; Lucuis’s AIDS is cured; the bubble gum is enough for all of them. Discuss the implications of each “miracle”.
Religions come about because of what people need at the time that they need them. (94) Do you agree or disagree?
What would be the hardest luxury to leave behind? (118)
Michael’s grandfather said “I thought God was supposed to love you unconditionally. Those sure sound like a lot of conditions to me (the requirements of a true believer). (124)” Argue both sides of his statement.
Which character is the most real to us? Which one is easiest to relate to? Why?
Where do you stand on the issue of the death penalty? A vivid description of lethal injection is given on page 131. Has this book changed how you feel?
June’s initial reaction is to refuse to a restorative justice meeting with Shay. How would you feel? What changes her mind?
Consider and address June’s questions on page 184. Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you loved? Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy’s dying wish?
Why were all the inmates on I-tier energized by Shay’s attempt to die on his own terms? (186)
Dr. Wu says what makes a heart worthy for transplant has nothing to do with the donor’s personality. (200) Do you agree or disagree? By the end of the book, have you changed your mind?
The history of the Gnostic gospels is in Change of Heart. Given what you now know about them, does this change your opinion of the New Testament in any way? If so, why, and if not, why not?
We were introduced to Ian Fletcher in Keeping Faith. Has your opinion of Ian changed? How?
June says that it’s her decision whether or not Claire should accept the heart – not Claire’s. Do you agree?
“I don’t belong to a religion. Religion’s the reason the world’s falling apart—did you see that guy get carted out of here? That’s what religion does. It points a finger. It causes wars. It breaks apart countries. It’s a petri dish for stereotypes to grown in. Religion’s not about being holy,” Shay said. “Just holier-than-thou.”(341) The news offers many examples in today’s world of how religion can be distorted to further violence or narrow-mindedness. Do you think the benefits of organized religion outweigh its potential caveats?
When Shay’s chains fell to the floor, what was your reaction as a reader? Do you believe in miracles?
Discuss the irony of the various names in the novel: Dr. Christian Gallagher, Maggie Bloom, Shay’s foster home of Bethlehem, NH, Joe Lynch, Warden Coyne, Father Michael Wright – and the title, CHANGE OF HEART.
Lucius’s sarcoma comes back after it was “cured”. What is the significance of the timing? Did this change your opinion of Shay’s “power”?
Shay finally tells Michael what really happened to Elizabeth and Kurt Nealon on the night they died. Are you surprised? Do you believe Shay?
Grace tells June “How would you have felt if---when Elizabeth died---someone told you that you can’t have her back, but that part of her could still be somewhere in the world. You may not know that part; you may not ever have contact with it---but you’d know it was out there, alive and well. Would you have wanted that?” Would you?
How does the preparation for Shay’s execution take on a “showtime” quality? The “circus” atmosphere has been around earlier with the media. How are the two situations similar? How are they different?
Several of the characters’ lives have intertwined: Calloway convicted of burning down a synagogue and Maggie’s father taking over as rabbi at Temple Beth (held in the cafeteria because the synagogue had burned down); CO Smythe’s baby was baptized by Father Michael and becomes one of Shay’s miracles; Michael finding his stolen picture of his grandfather and Shay’s involvement; Michael serving on the jury of Shay’s murder trial and then becoming his spiritual advisor. Discuss.
What do you think is meant by the ending of the book?
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Joshilyn Jackson blog
Here is the link for Joshilyn Jackson's (writer of Gods in Alabama) real-life blog where she relates how she real-life got arrested. Be ready to pee in your pants. Make sure you read parts one, two and three!
Friday, June 27, 2008
July and August Selection
We will be reading Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult for our July selection and The Next Thing on My List by Jill Smolinski in August. I don't think there is much interest in The Thirteenth Tale (although you don't know what you are missing-Michelle and I LOVED it!) so we will drop it from the list. Please send me any book suggestions you have or leave them in the comments. I would like for us to go ahead and pick our books for the rest of the year. The July meeting will be on July 14th at 6:45 at Wendy's house. See you there!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
July book
Please vote only once! (For some reason, the poll is allowing multiple voting.) Whichever book wins we will read for July; 2nd place will be August and 3rd place will be September. Our next meeting will be July 14 at 6:45 at Wendy's house. Book club last night was FABULOUS! I enjoyed the great discussion. The poll will close at 7 PM on Thursday.
Monday, June 16, 2008
June Quiz-Kudzu!
Answers are in the comments.
____ 1. Kudzu is a climbing annual vine.
____ 2. Kudzu only grows in trees.
____ 3. Kudzu has short pink flower that is highly fragrant.
____ 4. Kudzu is edible.
____ 5. Kudzu will grow in all climates.
____ 6. Kudzu can grow up to 3 feet a day.
____ 7. Opossums are the only known natural predator of kudzu in the United States.
____ 8. Kudzu can be used to make jelly that tastes like bubblegum.
____ 9. Kudzu can reduce both hangovers and alcohol cravings.
____ 10. Kudzu has been used to treat migraines.
____ 11. Kudzu has been used as a treatment for impotence.
____ 12. Kudzu has been used as a form of erosion control and also to enhance the soil.
____ 13. Kudzu can be used as forage for livestock.
____ 14. Kudzu has had devastating environmental consequences in the Southern United States.
____ 15. Kudzu may become a valuable asset for the production of biofuel.
____ 16. Kudzu was introduced into the United States on boats coming from Vietnam.
____ 17. Kudzu is used as an ornamental plant in Asia.
____ 18. The Soil Conservation Service encouraged farmers in the Southeast to plant kudzu to reduce soil erosion.
____ 19. Kudzu is highly tolerant of freezing temperatures.
____ 20. Kudzu has been found as far north as Maine and as far west as Oregon
____ 21. The only way to kill kudzu is to burn it.
____ 22. The city of Atlanta has undertaken a trial program using goats and llamas that graze on the plant.
____ 1. Kudzu is a climbing annual vine.
____ 2. Kudzu only grows in trees.
____ 3. Kudzu has short pink flower that is highly fragrant.
____ 4. Kudzu is edible.
____ 5. Kudzu will grow in all climates.
____ 6. Kudzu can grow up to 3 feet a day.
____ 7. Opossums are the only known natural predator of kudzu in the United States.
____ 8. Kudzu can be used to make jelly that tastes like bubblegum.
____ 9. Kudzu can reduce both hangovers and alcohol cravings.
____ 10. Kudzu has been used to treat migraines.
____ 11. Kudzu has been used as a treatment for impotence.
____ 12. Kudzu has been used as a form of erosion control and also to enhance the soil.
____ 13. Kudzu can be used as forage for livestock.
____ 14. Kudzu has had devastating environmental consequences in the Southern United States.
____ 15. Kudzu may become a valuable asset for the production of biofuel.
____ 16. Kudzu was introduced into the United States on boats coming from Vietnam.
____ 17. Kudzu is used as an ornamental plant in Asia.
____ 18. The Soil Conservation Service encouraged farmers in the Southeast to plant kudzu to reduce soil erosion.
____ 19. Kudzu is highly tolerant of freezing temperatures.
____ 20. Kudzu has been found as far north as Maine and as far west as Oregon
____ 21. The only way to kill kudzu is to burn it.
____ 22. The city of Atlanta has undertaken a trial program using goats and llamas that graze on the plant.
July/August possibilities
Change of Heart
Picoult bangs out another ripped-from-the-zeitgeist winner, this time examining a condemned inmate's desire to be an organ donor. Freelance carpen
ter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart.
ter Shay Bourne was sentenced to death for killing a little girl, Elizabeth Nealon, and her cop stepfather. Eleven years after the murders, Elizabeth's sister, Claire, needs a heart transplant, and Shay volunteers, which complicates the state's execution plans. Meanwhile, death row has been the scene of some odd events since Shay's arrival—an AIDS victim goes into remission, an inmate's pet bird dies and is brought back to life, wine flows from the water faucets. The author brings other compelling elements to an already complex plot line: the priest who serves as Shay's spiritual adviser was on the jury that sentenced him; Shay's ACLU representative, Maggie Bloom, balances her professional moxie with her negative self-image and difficult relationship with her mother. Picoult moves the story along with lively debates about prisoner rights and religion, while plumbing the depths of mother-daughter relationships and examining the literal and metaphorical meanings of having heart. June Parker's life is meandering along until a freak car accident leaves Marissa, her 24-year-old passenger, dead and June wracked with guilt. June disco
vers a list Marissa had been keeping of 25 things she wanted to do by the time she turned 25. After a run-in with Marissa's brother, June resolves to complete the list. Kissing a total stranger and throwing away her scale prove far easier than pitching an idea at work or changing someone's life. But June approaches the list with aplomb, daring to speak up about being passed over for a manager position, and becoming a Big Sister to a quiet, studious Latina teen named DeeDee. But when June uncovers a secret of DeeDee's, she realizes changing someone else's life might involve changing her own as well. Clever and winning, Smolinski's novel will have readers rooting for June as they eagerly turn the pages to keep up with her progress on the list.
vers a list Marissa had been keeping of 25 things she wanted to do by the time she turned 25. After a run-in with Marissa's brother, June resolves to complete the list. Kissing a total stranger and throwing away her scale prove far easier than pitching an idea at work or changing someone's life. But June approaches the list with aplomb, daring to speak up about being passed over for a manager position, and becoming a Big Sister to a quiet, studious Latina teen named DeeDee. But when June uncovers a secret of DeeDee's, she realizes changing someone else's life might involve changing her own as well. Clever and winning, Smolinski's novel will have readers rooting for June as they eagerly turn the pages to keep up with her progress on the list.There are two heroines here: Vida Winter, a famous author, whose life story is coming to an end, and Margaret Lea, a young, unworldly, bookish girl who is a bookseller in her father's shop. Vida has been 
confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:
"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan. The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told.
confounding her biographers and fans for years by giving everybody a different version of her life, each time swearing it's the truth. Because of a biography that Margaret has written about brothers, Vida chooses Margaret to tell her story, all of it, for the first time. At their initial meeting, the conversation begins:"You have given nineteen different versions of your life story to journalists in the last two years alone."
She [Vida] shrugged. "It's my profession. I'm a storyteller."
"I am a biographer, I work with facts."
The game is afoot and Margaret must spend some time sorting out whether or not Vida is actually ready to tell the whole truth. There is more here of Margaret discovering than of Vida cooperating wholeheartedly, but that is part of Vida's plan. The transformative power of truth informs the lives of both women by story's end, and The Thirteenth Tale is finally and convincingly told.
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