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The Last Days of Night,
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Kimberley
The LitLovers discussion questions posted here by Belinda were the only ones I could find. I also came up with one: What is your favorite quote included at the start of each chapter and why?
Also, it might be fun to start your book club meeting with candles if you are meeting in someone's house, then voila! switch to electric lights. Libraries do not allow wick candles because it's against their fire code, but you could bring electric votive candles for the same sort of effect. I'm looking forward to our book group discussion later this month -- it should be very "illuminating." Hee, hee.
Also, it might be fun to start your book club meeting with candles if you are meeting in someone's house, then voila! switch to electric lights. Libraries do not allow wick candles because it's against their fire code, but you could bring electric votive candles for the same sort of effect. I'm looking forward to our book group discussion later this month -- it should be very "illuminating." Hee, hee.
Joyce
I am looking for a link to discussion questions for my book club for the book JAMES by Percival Everett
Lindsay
Here are some of the ones I used for our discussion (some of them are by way of litlovers).
1. In the first chapter, Paul says “Even a true story is a fiction.” Do you agree with this statement?
2. Was Moore effective in creating the world of New York in the 1880’s? Would you describe the book as having a “strong sense of place?”
3. Does Moore do a credible job in breaking down the science of electricity, especially the differences between AC and DC current?
4. How was Nikola Tesla different from the two rivals at the heart of this story? In what way was his "genius" different from that of Edison or Westinghouse? What drove Tesla, as opposed to the other two men?
5. One of the central questions of the book is the question of “what is an invention, the idea or the product?” What do you think invention is? Do you think that Moore answers that question?
6. The entire story is told from Paul’s point of view. How does this affect the narrative? Do you think your opinion would change of Westinghouse or Edison if the story had been told from their point of view? Is Paul a reliable narrator?
7. Moore is a screenwriter and novelist (His screenplay for the film “The Imitation Game” won an Academy Award.) Do you feel like his screenwriting background influences his writing style?
8. Where there any characters or plot points that made you laugh? How did Moore handle comic relief and was it effective?
9. How do the three main female characters in the book, Agnes, Fannie and Ms. Westinghouse influence the story? Are Moore’s version of them historically believable? How are they similar? Could the story have been told without them?
10. If Agnes were alive now, would she have been guilty of identity theft? Were her actions, and Fannie’s actions, justifiable for her time and situation?
11. Do you think it possible/probable in real life that Edison or Westinghouse may have made an attempt on Tesla's life? Or did Graham add that plot point to build fictional suspense?
12. Moore uses quotes from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, was their rivalry over the invention of the PC similar to the lightbulb?
13. Do you think Paul’s character changes by the end of the book? How much influence does Edison have in those changes? Agnes says that she believes Paul and his father are very similar. Do you agree?
14. What do you think about Paul’s decision to talk Tesla out of his royalty payment? Can an argument be made that it was for the greater good, or was it, as Agnes says, “despicable”?
15. Would you say the story has a happy ending? How do we feel about Edison at the end of the book? What about Westinghouse?
1. In the first chapter, Paul says “Even a true story is a fiction.” Do you agree with this statement?
2. Was Moore effective in creating the world of New York in the 1880’s? Would you describe the book as having a “strong sense of place?”
3. Does Moore do a credible job in breaking down the science of electricity, especially the differences between AC and DC current?
4. How was Nikola Tesla different from the two rivals at the heart of this story? In what way was his "genius" different from that of Edison or Westinghouse? What drove Tesla, as opposed to the other two men?
5. One of the central questions of the book is the question of “what is an invention, the idea or the product?” What do you think invention is? Do you think that Moore answers that question?
6. The entire story is told from Paul’s point of view. How does this affect the narrative? Do you think your opinion would change of Westinghouse or Edison if the story had been told from their point of view? Is Paul a reliable narrator?
7. Moore is a screenwriter and novelist (His screenplay for the film “The Imitation Game” won an Academy Award.) Do you feel like his screenwriting background influences his writing style?
8. Where there any characters or plot points that made you laugh? How did Moore handle comic relief and was it effective?
9. How do the three main female characters in the book, Agnes, Fannie and Ms. Westinghouse influence the story? Are Moore’s version of them historically believable? How are they similar? Could the story have been told without them?
10. If Agnes were alive now, would she have been guilty of identity theft? Were her actions, and Fannie’s actions, justifiable for her time and situation?
11. Do you think it possible/probable in real life that Edison or Westinghouse may have made an attempt on Tesla's life? Or did Graham add that plot point to build fictional suspense?
12. Moore uses quotes from Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, was their rivalry over the invention of the PC similar to the lightbulb?
13. Do you think Paul’s character changes by the end of the book? How much influence does Edison have in those changes? Agnes says that she believes Paul and his father are very similar. Do you agree?
14. What do you think about Paul’s decision to talk Tesla out of his royalty payment? Can an argument be made that it was for the greater good, or was it, as Agnes says, “despicable”?
15. Would you say the story has a happy ending? How do we feel about Edison at the end of the book? What about Westinghouse?
Belinda
Use this website: http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guid...
Amber
Same here! Maybe we can think of our own questions and send them to each other??
Martie
Used generic questions
Karen
Did you two ever come up with questions? My group is discussing it tonight!
Brittany
I am also looking for the same thing! hopefully someone can help!
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