The Book Detectives are on the case again! This pick is thanks to Detective Angst Victor! I will be sharing the questions that I make for our group. We read in sections so I will label them clearly so you can pick and choose questions that might work for your book group as well. Please be aware there will be spoilers so make sure to be careful when scrolling.
Chapter 1 and 2
1. The book is set in a fantastical world with the memories of the authors time at Oxford helping to shape the narrative. What do you think of books that take place in real life places in a magical realism aspect? Do you think the authors note about how accurate her depiction of Oxford is necessary?
2. We meet the boy, who ends up Robin! What do we think of him and the circumstances he finds himself in?
3. Does the Professor Lovell seem like a trustworthy person?
4. Robin makes a very interesting insight into his ability to translate, hes the only one who can control the narrative and decide the truth in such situations. Isn't that cool?
5. Since Robin is learning about languages we get to learn a little As well, do you like how the author describes Robin's lessons? Are they easy to follow?
6. Do you think the Professor's discipline needed to be quite so drastic?
7. Isn't it neat how Mrs Piper teaches Robin about food and languages that relate to them?
Chapter 3 and 4
1. What did you think of Robin and the Professor's parting when he gets dropped off at college?
2. What do we think of Robin's new roommate?
3. The boys have some upsetting encounters with the other students. Do you think its better that Robin and Ramy have each other?
4. The boys don't really know much about why they are there, just that translation and languages are a big part of their curriculum. Is this helpful for them or a hindrance?
5. Robin ends up helping a group steal some silver bars in the middle of the night. Do you think he helped because his doppelganger was there? Or because Robin is a helpful boy?
6. They meet the rest of their fellow students, what did you think of the first time they all met?
7. Theres lots of applications for translating just in this Babel tower. What do you think would be the most interesting?
8. They take their blood and say if for the wards but do you really believe thats all its for?
9. What do you think of the situation the female students have to deal with?
10. Do you think the doppelganger is Robin from the future or his older brother?
Chapters 5 thru 7
1. What do we think of Griffin Lovell?
2. We learn some more about the Professor who took Robin in, does this change what we think of him?
3. Is there more to the Hermes society?
4. What did you think about what they said about translating texts?
5. Professor Craft was very short with Letty, what did we think of this scene?
6. Robin and his Chinese Professor work together for the most part in their lessons. What did you think of their conversation about why theres not more Chinese students?
7. What did you think of Robin's first visit with Professor Lovell since he started at Babel?
8. What do we think of Sterling Jones who makes an appearance at an interesting moment during dinner?
9. Robin's cohort are a family now! Do you think he will end up telling them about the Hermes society?
Chapters 7 thru 9
1. What do you think of Robin and Griffin's second in person meeting since Robin joined the organization?
2. Is it sweet that Robin's friends try to dissuade him from accepting the wine party invitation?
3. How do you think the party went?
4. We learn a bit more about Letty's life before she got to the school. What did you think this tells us about her?
5. Do you think its true that translations can never be faithful like they discussed in their class?
6. They talk about how the bars only work if people live and breath a language, why do you think this is the case?
7. Professor Lovell teaches one of Robin's classes now, do you think this will make things complicated?
8. They start to study the way words change through out history, did you find the explanations interesting or boring?
9. They have a really intense second year packed with homework and clubs, do you think its too much?
10. What did you think of the picture they got to take all together?
Chapters 10 thru 13
1. Griffin tells Robin about how their revolts even though its small helps bring about great change, what did you think of this conversation?
2. How did you feel about Robin's realization that he can never have Griffin in his life?
3. We get to see the wards in action, would you still continue helping the Hermes Society if you were in Robins shoes?
4. We have really sped up the timeline covering years in a chapter or two now. Do you think year 3 or 4 will make up the rest of the book?? Or will we cover all Robin's adult life too?
5. Victoire doesn't want to translate religious texts, do you agree with her reasoning? Or is Letty right that shes being too sensitive?
6. Is it concerning that the school so easily considers its lost students/graduates dead without any investigation?
7. What do you think about what Professor Lovell says about those workers who are out of work now cause of silver?
8. Was the display of Wright failing too much?
9. Do you think Robin has left the Hermes Society for good?
Chapter 14 thru Chapter 15
1. All the kids seem to be losing it a little around finals time, is this just run of the mill nerves or do you think something more sinister is happening?
2. What kind of connection do you suspected there is between the 4 students (Griffin, Evie, Sterling and Anthony) who disappeared and the Hermes society?
3. Do you think its true they appreciated the private party more because they attended the Ball first?
4. Their time after exams is filled with all kinds of merriment, do you think they can afford all this time off?
5. Robin discovers that Victorie and Ramy are also in the Hermes Society! What did you think of this discovery?
6. What did you think of Professor Lovell's interrogation of Robin?
7. Do we think Griffin killed Evie? Or is this a lie?
First Interlude to Chapter 17
Comments
Post a Comment