The book will also lead to discussions about bullying. Seventhgrader georges moves into a brooklyn apartment building and meets safer, a twelveyearold selfappointed spy. I may be biased, but moms book nook is the best online moms book club youll find. Safer and they form a spy club to keep tabs on suspicious people in the building. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Book discussion questions books fiction historical fiction book discussion questions.
Its sure to delight history buffs and readers interested in womens studies alike, as well as those who simply enjoy delving into a great, fast. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy is quite simply a fun excursion into an obscure aspect of the civil war that deserves a wide audience. Karen abbott, new york times bestselling author of liar temptress soldier spy book club talking points. The title refers to her father and his friends who would gather to drink and tell stories when not working at the oil refinery or the chemical plant. If your book club decides to read the ghosts of eden park, liar, temptress, soldier, spy, american rose, or sin in the second city, id be happy to join you via phone or skyfacetime.
Want to see these questions in action, and join a fun monthly online book club no awkward silences, promise. Many books have reading guides at the end of the book that are perfect to use for your book club. Like steads newbery medalwinning when you reach me, it will keep readers guessing until the end when seventh grader georges the s is silent moves into a brooklyn apartment building, he meets safer, a twelveyearold coffeedrinking loner and self. If youre in the nyc vicinity, or if im passing through your part of the country, id love to join you in person especially if you have cocktails on hand.
A group for anyone interested in reading and discussing memoirs, autobiographies and biographies. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy audiobook listen instantly. Our book club was thoroughly enchanted by this book and by the powerful women who stuck to their ideals and beliefs. Book club questions for an officer and a spy by robert harris may 7, 2014 books an officer and a spy books fiction historical fiction yet again robert harris takes a truelife historical sensation and twists it into a gripping novel. The instant new york times bestseller from the author of the newbery medal book when you reach me. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy is largely told chronologically. With liar, temptress, soldier, spy, karen abbott has taken history and written it with the eloquence of good fiction. General book club questions for study and discussion. Our 23 hour meetings are primarily a social gathering with a mere 10 minute discussion about the book snuck somewhere in the middle. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy summary supersummary. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. I really loved the book though at one point i was furious with safer. The activities are designed to be used mainly as part of an english program, although given the book s focus on science, there is a strong science component. Book club questions for an officer and a spy by robert.
The book also describes middleclass urban life in brooklyn and explores alternative methods of parenting and educating kids one of georges friends is homeschooled. The four talented feminine operatives of liar, temptress, soldier, spy all displayed a willingness to put their livesand often their bodieson the line to aid their side in the war between the statesit will surprise no reader of this book that erik larson hailed its author as the john le carre of civil war espionagewith the. The book also deals with discrimination of the blueskinned people that lived in appalachia. Twelveyearold georges the s is silent is named after his moms favorite artist, georges seurat. I decided to come up with a generic list of book club questions to compel us to dig deeper than did you like the book. She won the 2010 newbery medal for the most distinguished contribution to childrens literature for her second novel. Consequently, these notes are aimed at upper primary and lower secondary classrooms middle school. Liar and spy written by rebecca stead is an interesting book that keeps the reader guessing at every page. We announce the book selection on the first monday of the month and discuss on the. The liars club is a memoir by american author mary karr.
Author bio birthjanuary 16, 1968 wherenew york city, new york, usa educationb. An emotional and compelling read highlighting the extreme poverty and monstrous conditions of the coal mining country of kentucky. Different in feel and content from when you reach me, it nevertheless pays homage to the intelligence and subtleties possible for middle grade literature. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy karen abbott hardcover. Recommending new books each month to spark lively conversation. Karen abbott illuminates one of the most fascinating yet little known aspects of the civil war.
Join in the discussion at the january meeting of our monthly library book club, reading liar, temptress, soldier, spy by karen abbott. As in the most ingenious crime stories, keefe unveils a revelation lying, so to speak, in plain sight. Engage your students in a discussion about why he does this at different points in the novel. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy reading group choices. Abbotts ability to present her subject in an entertaining yet informative manner makes this one a winner. The chapters are short, 5 pages or less, so it is seemingly appropriate for younger readers. The book is interesting and exciting and paints incredible pictures of very different women who, love them or hate them, lived unusual lives of great. The book woman of troublesome creek discussion questions. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy harper perennial by karen abbott isbn. We can change meetup locations and book selections for each month based on group preferences. New york times bestseller a masterful history of the troubles. If not, you can visit the publisher or authors website and find online reading guides. With so much anticipation, the author can keep you reading for hours.
Yet it is a subtle story that requires careful attention. As such, the book is accessible both to readers with prior knowledge of the civil war and new readers looking for a detailed introduction to the period. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. What do you think was the most difficult aspect of being a woman during this time. Dec 14, 2017 my current book club group is much more casual, but perhaps too much so.
The book has a fast beginning that i personally enjoy. Seventh grader georges moves into a brooklyn apartment building and meets safer, a twelveyearold selfappointed spy. Yet another thematic layer in liar and spy in the spinning of tales by unreliable storytellers. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. With a cast of reallife characters including walt whitman, nathaniel hawthorne, general stonewall jackson, detective allan pinkerton, abraham and mary todd lincoln, and emperor napoleon iii, liar, temptress, soldier, spy draws you into the war as these daring women lived it. Examine the five different tastes six, if you count bittersweet discussed in liar and spy.
If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Whether you are discussing characters and their actions, setting, theme, or images, having a guide to questions. Sarah on the reading zone recommended liar and spy as a terrific. Four women undercover in the civil war by rose1 see profile 062918. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy is a best book club book for discussion, a novel that shines dramatic new light on the daring and, until now, unsung heroines of women in war. It is her examination of character motivation and the ways in which we deal with lifes challenges, however, that will resonate long after the surprises are revealed. The liars club by mary karr book club discussion questions. The womens stories weave together to create a detailed picture of the civil war from new perspectives. Nov 12, 2012 in liar and spy, newbery winning author rebecca stead offers readers a satisfying novel full of suspense, plot twists, and complex main characters.
Maureen corrigan, npr from awardwinning new yorker staff writer patrick radden keefe, a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing in northern ireland and its devastating repercussions. Sep 05, 2016 when you choose a popular book club book, you can often find a wealth of book discussion questions already written for you. Georges our hero is named after the pointillist georges seurat finds his word turned upsidedown. Real lives book club des moines des moines, ia meetup. I came up with the discussion questions for this club meeting with the help of the great website sweet on books. This asset provides discussion questions for students who are reading this novel. When i set out on a book tour to promote the memoir about my less than perfect texas clan, i did so with soulsucking dread. Kids wings literature guide and activities for liar and. Safer isnt the only one concocting stories about peoples lives.
The activities are designed to be used mainly as part of an english program, although given the books focus on science, there is a strong science component. No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion. Do you think most women considered their increased responsibilities a hardship or a freedom. So when he is recruited into a secret spy club by safer. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy by karen abbott smart. Here is the list of everything weve read to date as of march 21, 2020. We meet in a private facebook group and chat about a new book every month. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Surely wed be held up as grotesques, my beloveds and i, real moral circus freaks. Liar, temptress, soldier, spy by karen abbott smart bitches. Book club liar, temptress, soldier, spy by karen abbott belle boyd became a spy for the confederate army, using her considerable charms to seduce men on both sides.
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