Book Club Discussion Questions for 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt

1. Rate the book A - F.

2. Many comparisons have been made between this book and Great Expectations and other Dickens books - do you see the similarities? Are they significant?

3. For most of the book, Theo is 13-15. Does that seem right? Does he seem wise beyond his years? Immature?

4. Does the book seem to accurately depict the feeling of loss? People's reaction to Theo's loss?

5. Theo meets many personalities throughout his young adulthood. Which do you like best?

6. What advice would you give to Theo if you met him after his mother passed?

7. Are there any good influences on Theo's life? What impact do they make?

8. Why do you think such a sad story has become such a popular novel?

9. Would you see a movie based on this book? Who would you pick to play each character?


- Cameron

Book Club Discussion Questions: Black Mass

via

1. Grade the book, A-F
2. What are your overall impressions of the FBI after reading this book?
3. What were some of the pros and cons of Gerard K. O'Neill and Dick Lehr's writing styles?
4. Bulger notably befriended many in the South Boston community and beyond.  How do you think he covered the bases with informants in training them to follow his methods of madness?
5. Connolly was essentially enamored with Bulger and his artful ways.  If you were him as a young agent, would you feel the same way?  Why or why not?
6. As we know, the Showtime show, Ray Donovan, is based on the life of Whitey.  What similarities/differences do you notice between that and Black Mass as two interpretations of his life?
7. Do you think any parts of the book would have been written differently if it had been written after Whitey was caught or put on trial?
8. Has Whitey's story and reputation been glamorized?
9. Do you think the city and state are still corrupt? If not, what has changed about our city's culture in the past 20 years to prevent these situations?
10. A lot of Whitey & Flemmi's schemes had to do with gambling and betting; Do you think a new casino in Everett would open up the area to similar racketeering schemes in the coming years?
11. Do you think informants influenced by Whitey are still out there living a lie?
12. What is one thing about Boston you learned from this book that you didn't know before?

via

Think we're psyched for the movie next year, or what?!

For more updated information on Bulger after he was found and last summer's trial, be sure to catch the CNN special on Whitey, too (we'll be watching it tonight at book club)!

- Meredith

Join JUGs Book Club

Join our book club by reading each of these books by the beginning of its designated month. During the first week of each month, we'll post our discussion questions so you can get more out of your reading! Feel free to post your answers/thoughts/or additional questions in the "comments" section. We are really excited for these next six reads! Enjoy.


- Cameron

Discussion Questions for Mindy Kaling's 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?'

1. Grade the book, A-F.

2. Compared to other memoirs you've read, how does this one stack up?

3. What was your favorite essay in the book? Why?

4. What parts did you find most relatable?

5. To what do you attribute Mindy's success in Hollywood? Her passion? Her ambition? Pure Talent? Luck?

6. Are there deeper themes to the book as a whole, or is it just a light-hearted, funny read?

7. Did you find any relevant career advice?

8. Is Mindy a good role model? Is she one of your's?

9. A lot of Mindy's humor is self-deprecating. Do you think she is too hard on herself? If so, does that perhaps speak to the pressure of celebrity?

10. What is the deal with young celebs writing memoirs? Are you over it? Who would you want to see come out with one?

1

- Cameron

Discussion Questions for Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

1. Give the book a grade and justify it with your fellow book clubbers.

2. Have you read any of J.K. Rowling's other post-Harry Potter books?

3. Why did J.K. Rowling use a pseudonym for this novel? Did she achieve the goal of this plan?

image

4. Were you surprised by the ending? Why or why not?

5. Did you find Robin relatable?

6. Mental health issues (PTSD, depression, addiction, bipolar) was a major theme throughout the book. How did these conditions blind or aid each character?

7. Who would you want to play each character in a movie?

8. The cover art confused some of us. What did you think of it?

- Cameron

Week of June 30

1

F I T N E S S 

Only a few days left to get your bikini bod ready for the Fourth of July weekend! Try out the free Bootcamp Fitness and Zumba classes at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End. Or if those aren't your thing checkout these 3 Up and Coming Fitness Trends (including one of our favorite workouts). 

Thinking about making a diet change? Going Vegetarian Can Cut Your Diet's Carbon Footprint in Half!

C A R E E R

• How to Save $100K to Buy an Apartment
• How to Live the Good Life on a Budget 
• 7 Reasons to Become Financially Fearless

L O N G  W E E K E N D

Whether you are staying in town for the fireworks or going on a mini vaca this week, it is sure to be a festive and exciting 4th of July. Make sure to pack right for the weekend - don't forget sunscreen and a copy of Cuckoo's Calling which is our next Book Club read! 

If you don't have plans yet, register for one of these awesome parties in the city!

- Cameron

Book Club Discussion Questions for OITNB

This month, we're tackling the book behind the buzz. Before there was the TV show, there was Orange the New Black, Piper Kerman's memoir about her year in prison in 2004. Not only does this help us draw comparisons between the Netflix series and Kerman's real life account, but also raises some questions about the U.S. criminal justice system.

1. Give the book a grade, A-F.

2. What was one thing you learned from the book that you didn't previously realize about prison?

3. Did you find Kerman's writing style preachy or inspiring?

4. After reading this book, what is the one change you'd like to see in the prison system?

5. Do you feel more sympathetic to convicted felons than you did before reading the book?

6. More people are locked up in the U.S. than any other country. Why is this?

7. Did Kerman's punishment fit her crime? How about the other inmates?

8. How did her socio-economic status, race, and gender affect her time in prison? Her story? Does it make her story more or less credible?

9. Should prisons be privately-owned or run by the government?

10. Does the Netflix series do the book justice? In what ways is it better or worse than the book?

11. How would you adapt to prison life?

- Cameron

Homage to 'Make Way for Duckings'

 Sometimes it is fun to look back at the gorgeous illustrations from Boston's most iconic childrens' story.

- Cameron

Discussion Questions for 'Lean In' By Sheryl Sandberg

'

1

About a year ago, Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In was making headlines in every major news outlet. Its funny, because though the book is well written and throught provoking, the topic of women in the workplace is far from a new issue. So why did this book cause such a firestorm? Lets discuss.

1. Give the book a letter grade and explain.

2. After reading Lean In, why do you think women only make $.77 for every dollar made by a man?

3. Have you ever negotiated a pay raise? If not, what's holding you back?

4. How are older and younger generations of women different in your workplace?

5. Did you find any flaws in Sandberg's arguments throughout the book?

6. Do you have someone in your field that you'd consider a mentor? Do you serve as a mentor for a younger woman?

7. Has reading this book had any impact on your office behavior or outlook?

8. Is "ambitious" a positive way to describe someone - or negative?

9. Sandberg focuses on the phrase "done is better than perfect." Is this a motto you see yourself incorporating into your career?

If you liked the book and found Sandberg's advice helpful, I highly suggest checking out the Lean In organization's website - it is updated frequently with career advice and negotiation tutorials!

Book Club Discussion Questions for 'And The Mountains Echoed'

1. If you had to give this book a letter grade, what would you give?

2. Have you read Khaled Housseini's other books? What are the similarities and differences? What plot devices does the author continue to use throughout his work?

3. What would you say are the three main themes of the book?

4. How are the characters raised in Afghanistan different from those raised in the U.S.? France? Greece? Are these accurate representations?

5. Which character did you find the most sympathetic? Least?

6. The oak tree in Shadbagh plays an important role for many different characters. What is its significance in the story? What do its branches represent? Why do you think Saboor cuts it down? How does its stump come back as an important landmark later on?

7. Why is the book titled And the Mountains Echoed? Can you find examples of echoes or recurrences in the plot? In the structure of the storytelling?

8. The book describes the shades of right and wrong that people must sort through when making decisions. Are there any characters that made decisions that were 100% wrong? Are there some characters that feel they've "made" wrong decisions that you think were actually the "right" ones?

9. Many characters face heart-wrenching disabilities throughout the novel. What is Hosseini trying to convey? How do the other characters help/hurt those dealing with physical trauma?

10. Why did Nabi wait so long to try to mend his broken family?

Have any other questions to share? Comment and join our discussion!

JUGs Book Club List

Join along with our book club, and check back each month for discussion questions, character style guides, movie comparisons, and more!

- Cameron

Discussion Questions for When We Were the Kennedys: A Memoir

via

February's book club read was a breeze to get through!  Monica Wood presented a memoir about grief, healing and the many facets of a family unit going through tragedy, something not often touched on in literature.  Oprah has even had When We Were the Kennedys on her book list.  These emotions are pretty refreshing to experience in a book every now and then.  Since the book takes place in northern New England, there are a lot of interviews with Wood about her hometown and her memoir we so enjoyed (here, here and here)!  

Now, for some discussion questions on the book:

1.  Wood has said that the book started as fiction but then transformed into a memoir.  Do you think that was the right choice?  

2.  In the area of Mexico, Maine, residents seem to be mostly Catholic, but also of French, Irish and Italian descents.  How does religion influence Monica and her family as they struggle to come back together following her father's death?

3.  What are the major parallels you can draw between the Wood and Kennedy families?  

4.  Do you think Wood's title is accurate of the memoir?

5.  The book's reviews often touch on how Wood captured the end of the age of innocence in the US during this time period.  What evidence does the book give to support this?

6.  Do you feel that the writing was accurately descriptive of the 1960s?  Which other different time period, if any?

7.  What kind of realizations are brought to surface  for the Wood children following their father's death?  How does this affect their later lives?

8.  What grade would you give the book overall, A-F?  Why?

Our next read is And the Mountains Echoed, be sure to pick it up before your St. Patrick's Day antics start and read along with us!

- Meredith

Wine and Cheese Pairings

via

via

via

One of the staples to our monthly JUGs book club meetings would be the pairing of wine and cheese.  It's tough to go wrong with these items when entertaining and not be tempted to simply grab a 5-10 "buck chuck" and a block of reliable cheddar, but in trying to widen one's palate, I've been looking for a guide of how these items can complement each other even more than personal taste.

I came across an interactive online tool that I like best, Cheese Cupid, whose name could not be more fitting!  As you'd expect, you choose either a wine or cheese and the tool does the rest for you:

via

via

I especially like the pairing recommendations with other snacks... whenever I go to The Salty Pig, I rely on the server's suggestions, but this tool has educated me on what I should request next time.  Now you're just left with the tough decision of which to contribute to your next book club meeting!

- Meredith

Book Club Questions for Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

The gals have spent this freezing month reading a book set in warmer climates: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter. Grab your girls and discuss with our monthly JUGs book club discussion guide. 

1. If you had to give the book a letter grade, what would you give?

2. Did you prefer the modern day story or the 1960s storyline?

3. Which character did you find the most sympathetic? 

4. Besides Michael Deane, who was your least favorite character? Why?

5. What is the significance of the novel's title? (It was first used by a journalist to describe Richard Burton many years after his marriage to Taylor.) Who else, or what, are the "beautiful ruins"?

6. The overarching themes of the book are love, sacrifice, and dreams. Which had the most impact on the story?

7. Do you think the book would be different if it had been written by a woman?

8. What purpose did the story of the "Donner Party" serve within the novel?

9. Lastly, what actors would you choose to be in a film version of Beautiful Ruins?

- Cameron

'Beautiful Ruins' Makes Us Dream of the Italian Coast

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

- Cameron

Overdrive App for Book Lending

via

Remember that place called the library?  Yeah, between the holidays and hectic after-work schedule, it had been a while for me, too.  Well, so long as you have a library card, you can borrow books and have them sent right to your iPad/kindle!  A friend of mine walked me through this, and I'm so glad that I no longer have to buy book club books!  Steps are as follows:

1.  Using your library card number, create a pin either at your local branch or online
2.  Install the Overdrive app on your device
3.  Search for the book on the library website

4. Choose "ebook" version, and select "send to kindle" when the amazon prompt appears.

You now have the book on your device for a two week lending period.  Now, off to start (and finish) Beautiful Ruins before next Thursday!  Have you tried the Overdrive app?  Or do you still prefer the classic physical paperback version from the library?

- Meredith

Week of December 30

Well gals, we made it - it is the last few days of 2013! Time to finalize plans for New Years Eve and start sorting out some resolutions and goals for next year. Here is everything you need to know for this week:

B O O K  C L U B

Tonight our book club is discussing Where'd You Go Bernadette? I am very excited to hear what other people thought of the novel. If you've read it, take a look at our discussion questions and let us know what ya think. Next up, Jess Walter's Beautiful Ruins for January book club. Check back soon for book club guides.

W I N T E R  W O N D E R L A N D

Now that the holiday party season is winding down, it is the perfect time to plan a winter getaway with friends or family. A ski trip to Stowe or Sunday River would be just the thing to banish the winter blues. Plus, heading to New Hampshire, Maine, or Vermont is the perfect excuse to wear some of these awesome boots.

G L I T Z

Need last minute plans for NYE? Searching through Eventbrite and Facebook reveals some good options around town. I'm eyeing this super-cheap dance party at North Star....hmmm.....

Have a great week!

- Cameron

Discussion Questions for Where'd You Go Bernadette?

1 

Aside from a super-cute cover, Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette? gives us plenty to discuss!

1. First things first, what letter grade would you give this book and why? 

2. Is Bernadette crazy or just misunderstood? Audrey?

3. Did you find the book relatable, or too far-fetched? Which character did you find most relatable?

4. Were Bee's hateful feelings towards her father in the second half of the book justified?

5. Why Antarctica? Is this symbolic? Did this book make you want to go there?

6. Did you like the format of the book? Would you have preferred it to be written traditionally?

7. Architects and other creatives are often seen as "crazy" by others. Did you see any similarities between this book and Loving Frank? 

8. Do you think this book is a comedy? beach reading? innovative? immature? How would you best describe the book as whole?

9. Who would you love to see play each character in the movie? (I am thinking Julianne Moore as Bernadette)

- Cameron 

Monuments Men: Discussion Questions

1. Robert Edsel calls the Monuments Men, “The Heroes of Civilization.” What do you think Edsel means and do you agree? 

2. What do you think drove the Men to do what they did and how did they find the strength given circumstances at the time?

3. Discuss Hitler’s obsession with art and his personal connection to art. Do you think there was any correlation between art and power for him? Do you think there is a correlation in society today with art and power?

4. At any point while reading Monuments Men did you think of the war in the Middle East? Are there similar atrocities taking place today? Examples? What’s different?

5. Why do you think this is a relatively unknown story? Is it not interesting? Exciting?

6. During the book did you feel differently about national treasures being stolen rather than a families' personal items being stolen and destroyed during the war?

7. We happened to read this book when new pieces were discovered in Germany. Did this give you any hope that more pieces are soon to be discovered?

8. If found, should they be returned to their original owners?

9. We often like to choose actors for our book's future movies, but Monuments Men is already set to debut in 2014 (view the trailer here). What do you think of the trailer and the cast?

- Suzanne

Week of November 18

1

S H O P P I N G

Thanksgiving is next week so if you are planning to do any black Friday, small business Saturday, or cyber Monday shopping, this week is a good time for you to start making your holiday shopping lists! Keep an eye on our Gift Guide series for great ideas for the whole family. I am especially excited to do some local shopping at JUGs Approved boutiques like Follain and Crush!

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

I don't know about you gals, but I am super pumped that Catching Fire, the second installment of The Hunger Games movie is coming out on November 22nd. If you haven't read the Hunger Games books yet, they are very easy, so there is still time to finish them quickly before the movie comes out.

These dark, cold, November evenings are the perfect time to cuddle up with a cup of herbal tea and a good book. So if, like me, you've already read the Hunger Games series, join the JUGs in reading Monuments Men for our November book club.

F I T N E S S

Lets face it, it is easy to gain weight this time of year. Thats why I plan to keep motivated pre-Thanksgiving by taking fun and relaxing classes at HYL, North End Yoga, and Beacon Hill Athletic Club. Then I don't need to feel bad about a double serving of mashed potatoes and gravy next week!

Have a great week gals

- Cameron