October / November Book

Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham

Down and Dirty

Here's the basic ideas I had for the reading group. Let me know what you think and add any ideas you have.

One book every 2 months. We use the first month to read the book, research the stock questions and prepare specific questions. The second month is used to discuss the book and questions.

Everyone submits a question or topic related to the book (or more than one.)

Anyone can play, even anonymously.

All of the questions are posted as separate posts (one every few days so we can concentrate on a question) and everyone answers or responds to the questions in the questions’ comments sections.

Stock questions/research:

Research the author for the following information:
Birth date and place
Death date and place
Parents and their occupations
Siblings, position in family, how did the author get on with his family
Spouse, children and their relationships
Schooling, training, trade, occupations
Places lived
Time period
Politics of the time and of the author
Religion
Influences
Other works



Basic review of the book:
Synopsis
Characters
Place
Time
Themes
Mood
POV
Voice
Style
Language
Did you like the book?
How was this book autobiographical?


Reading Schedule:

Oct/Nov 2007 Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham
Dec 2007/Jan 2008 Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Feb/Mar 2008 The Works by Max Beerbohm
Apr/May 2008 The Waves by Virginia Woolf