The Fairfax
Library Book Discussion Group will meet Thursday, May 9th at 7 p.m. in the
meeting room of the Fairfax Library to discuss our May book, Days Without
End by Sebastian Barry.
Here are some
links for additional background and information:
Coming up, we
have the following book to look forward to reading:
Thurs. June
13th Barracoon
by Zora Neale Hurston
Thanks for
reading with us. I look forward to seeing you at the Fairfax Library.
Beth Bailey-Gates
Friends of
the Fairfax Library
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Thomas escapes famine in Ireland for war and horror in the
US. However, at times he finds moments of happiness and safety. How well
did Barry balance these contradictions?
- Thomas and John were part of both the Indian Wars and the
Civil War – how did the descriptions of these differ in the narrative?
- The relationship between Thomas and John is central to the
novel – how different would their experience be in the US military today?
- How does the introduction of Sioux child Winona, into the
complicated relationship of Thomas and John, challenge our preconceptions
of the family dynamic?
- Both Thomas and John work in their youth, as
cross-dressing entertainers. How does this experience impact their lives
going forward?
- Thomas’ descriptions of war and battles are very violent.
How do you think that violence affected him? How might it have affected
John Cole?
- “The ones that don’t try to rob me will feed me. That how
it is in America.” This is one of the last lines in the novel. Does this
sounds like an accurate description of the country? How will Thomas and
John fare in the country now?
- Since 2012, applicants to California state colleges and
universities are asked to share their sexual identification ie.
transgender, lesbian, gay, heterosexual, bisexual etc. Does this indicate
that life is better or easier for people who identify in ways other than
heterosexual?
