Wow, the month has flown by! It’s kind of hard to believe that in less than a month we will be able to witness the chaos that is 2seok again! Before that happens and while listening to Megjoon, we hope you had a chance to read this month’s book!
You know that we neva play…with these discussion questions
Below is a discussion guide. Some book-specific questions and other sharing suggestions!
You can scroll down this thread or use these links to go directly to these questions!
General
- Did you have a favorite and least favorite story in the collection? Why? Do you think there were any interconnecting themes between the stories in this collection?
Story Specific
Story of Your Life
- If your life was predetermined and you knew how it was going to play out, do you think that would have an effect on your actions? Would you accept the future that is laid out or would you try to change it?
- Have you seen the movie Arrival, which is based on Story of Your Life, do you think it stayed true to the short story?
Like What You See: A Documentary
- Chiang imagines a world where a procedure would eliminate a person’s ability to perceive
physical beauty. We live in a world where there is a large emphasis placed on physical
beauty and how to achieve it. If you lived in this world would you choose to have the
calliagnosia procedure done? Why or why not?
- Chiang imagines a world where a procedure would eliminate a person’s ability to perceive
- What did you think of the main character’s reaction and the conclusions that he came to at the end of the story?
- There is a convergence of religion and technology in the story Seventy-Two Letters. Have you read a book or story that has had a similar theme to this one?
- Did you like the use of first person perspective? Did it help you connect to the story/character more? Would you want to learn as much as the main character and what would you do with that kind of knowledge?
The Evolution of Human Science
- In this story humans have been replaced by metahumans that they created. How does the role of humans change?
- Carl makes the choice to tell his wife, Renee, that he has fallen out of love with her and wants to end their relationship after she is released from the hospital. While Renee is explaining her breakdown to Carl, the story ends mid-conversation. How do you think the story would have played out if it had continued?
- Chiang created a world where the existence of God cannot really be questioned. What are your thoughts on our main characters’ differing mindsets and options on God and how their stories played out?
B-Side Questions/Discussion Suggestions
- Fan Chant: Hype/overall reviews
- Ments: favorite quotes
- ARMY Time: playlist/recommendations of songs you associate with the book/chapters/characters
- Do The Wave: sentiments, feels, realizations based on the book
- Encore/Post Club-read Depression Prevention: something the book club can do afterwards (on your own leisure time) to help feel less sad after reading.
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
Stories of Your Life and Others delivers dual delights of the very, very strange and the heartbreakingly familiar, often presenting characters who must confront sudden change-the inevitable rise of automatons or the appearance of aliens-with some sense of normalcy. With sharp intelligence and humor, Chiang examines what it means to be alive in a world marked by uncertainty, but also by beauty and wonder. An award-winning collection from one of today’s most lauded writers.
Countin’ books every day…
Is there a book you’d love Namjoon to read? Or maybe there’s one that made you think of Hobi. Tell us what books you’d recommend to a specific member or you’d like to add to our TBR list. Click here for your recs!
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the book or the thread, feel free to tag me like so u/EveryCliche or any of the mods or BWL Volunteers.
…and the r/bangtan Mod Team
by EveryCliche
## Countin’ books every day…
* Is there a book you’d love Namjoon to read? Or maybe there’s one that made you think of Hobi. Tell us what books you’d recommend to a specific member or you’d like to add to our TBR list.
—
*Reply to this comment for your recs!*
## Hell is the Absence of God
* Chiang created a world where the existence of God cannot really be questioned. What are your thoughts on our main characters’ differing mindsets and options on God and how their stories played out?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer this question!*
## Division by Zero
* Carl makes the choice to tell his wife, Renee, that he has fallen out of love with her and wants to end their relationship after she is released from the hospital. While Renee is explaining her breakdown to Carl, the story ends mid-conversation. How do you think the story would have played out if it had continued?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer this question!*
## The Evolution of Human Science
* In this story humans have been replaced by metahumans that they created. How does the role of humans change?
***
*Reply to this comment to answer this question!*
## Understand
* Did you like the use of first person perspective? Did it help you connect to the story/character more?
* Would you want to learn as much as the main character and what would you do with that kind of knowledge?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer these questions!*
## Seventy-Two Letters
* There is a convergence of religion and technology in the story Seventy-Two Letters. Have you read a book or story that has had a similar theme to this one?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer this question!*
## Tower of Babylon
* What did you think of the main character’s reaction and the conclusions that he came to at the end of the story?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer these question!*
## Like What You See: A Documentary
* Chiang imagines a world where a procedure would eliminate a person’s ability to perceive
physical beauty. We live in a world where there is a large emphasis placed on physical
beauty and how to achieve it. If you lived in this world would you choose to have the
calliagnosia procedure done? Why or why not?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer these questions!*
## Story of Your Life
* If your life was predetermined and you knew how it was going to play out, do you think that would have an effect on your actions? Would you accept the future that is laid out or would you try to change it?
* Have you seen the movie Arrival, which is based on Story of Your Life, do you think it stayed true to the short story?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer these questions!*
## General
* Did you have a favorite and least favorite story in the collection? Why? Do you think there were any interconnecting themes between the stories in this collection?
—
*Reply to this comment to answer this question!*