Book Clubs

Do you belong to a book club? Do you know someone who belongs to a book club? Do you want to start a book club? Then you know book clubs are great opportunities to share insights and observations about great stories.

The following questions provide a sense of themes in the Woodcliff Anthology:

For the person who chose the Woodcliff Anthology

Printer-friendly

1. What made you want to read this book?
2. Why did you suggest it to the group for discussion?
3. Did the anthology live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
4. Did the individual stories meet your expectations? Why or Why not?
5. Did the book live up to Blankinship’s assertion that the stories “may remind you of One Step Beyond or The Twilight Zone”?

Blankinship dedicated this anthology to “those hapless deep thinkers who are convinced life is a random biochemical accident and we exist in an indifferent cosmos, spinning dizzily toward extinction.”

1. How would you define your own outlook on life?
2. Which story seemed the most spiritual?
3. In what way was the spirituality evidenced?
4. Did you relate to the characters and their motivations? In what ways?
5. Has this made you think about religion or spirituality in your own life? How so?

Wishing for Secrets

A young boy’s desire to know more about life drives him on a quest to learn secrets; however, his wishes reveal that nothing was ever hidden from him.

1.  Did you think the boy’s experiences were believable?
2. Which character, other than the boy, did you like best and why?
3. Talk about the secondary characters, why were they important to the story?
4. How did the author’s narrative device affect your appreciation of the story?
5. Did the narrative stand in the way of your appreciation or enhance your enjoyment?

Jewel's Unexpected Friends

Jewel lives in an isolated area. She copes with her loneliness by unquestioningly obeying her cruel father. After learning that wolves are nearby, Jewel becomes concerned for a stray dog and her newborn puppies. She promises to protect them, even if that means incurring the wrath of her heartless father.

1. Did the author describe a realistic young female character?
2. Were Jewel’s reactions to her situation, surroundings, and her new friends, realistic?
3. Which event in the story most affected you or caught your attention and why was it important to you?
4. What do you think the last line in the story means?

Miss Elaine's Rescue

The Macphersons had almost given up on finding someone to care for their daughter and then they found a woman with the experience and passion to do the job. She accepted the job for very little pay; however, does she have a secret reason for caring for this baby?

1. This story is told in narrative form; how do you think it might have been different if one of the characters was telling the story?
2. How do you feel about the rescue of Miss Elaine?
3. As you read the story, what seemed to be the major theme?
4. How did your opinion of the theme change as you finished the story?

Justice for Patricia

She lived an ordinary life until a man ruthlessly mugged her. Now, she spends each moment of her day wanting to even the score. She wants justice. The authorities have done nothing, so when she learns it is possible to make things right, she begins her life-changing quest for revenge.

1. Did the author realistically describe Patricia’s victimization and fear?
2. Was there redemption for Patricia at the end of the story? Why or why not?
3. Has your opinion about “justice” changed as a result of reading this story?

The Last Bet

Chuck Greystone was a great golfer. At the peak of his career, he plummeted to the bottom of his profession. Alcohol, gambling, and divorce left him a broken and discouraged man. Now his biggest concern is where he will find his next drink. With the right help, he could make a spectacular comeback and he has made the biggest wager of his life that he will once again play great golf.

1. What do you think the author was trying to convey with this story?
2. How did your opinion of Chuck change as the story progressed?
3. How do you feel about the way this story ended? Was it an effective and satisfying ending?

The Final Defense

A judge, a jury, and an accused man seek justice; yet, with so many crimes, so many victims, and so many reasons, can anyone determine the punishment?

1. Did you like the way this story was structured? How did this affect your appreciation of the story?
2. What elements in the story seemed most important at the end? Why?
3. Was there redemption in this story? For whom?

The Mystic’s Help

Senator and Mrs. LeGrand have dreams of becoming the next occupants of the Whitehouse. On a rainy evening, in a damp parking garage, they find the woman who can make their dream come true.

1. How do you believe the average person would react to the mystic?
2. What would be your first thoughts about how to use the mystic’s help?
3. What was more important to the story, the LeGrand’s choices, or the mystic’s motivation?
4. Did the ending change your attitude toward any of the characters? How or why?

The Arrangements

Turkey club or Reuben on rye? A sandwich mix up leads a terminally ill man to re-evaluate his life and his ideas about the perfect day.

1. What would be your perfect day?
2. Do you think Jeff was mostly trusting or suspicious?
3. How would you react to such arrangements?
4. What was the theme of this story?
5. Did it seem to change as you read the story?