For those of you that haven't or couldn't attend book club lately, we'll be publishing the previous months' discussion questions here. I hope eventually to post discussion questions for all of the books we've covered since I took over a couple of years ago and beyond, all the way to the beginning over a decade and a half ago. It will take a while. Until then, we will be posting discussion questions on a weekly basis. Here are the questions from our February title, How Not to Die Alone. We hope these questions spark discussions of your own.
Remember to attend this month's book club meeting in person or via Zoom, Wednesday, February 16th @5:30PM. If using Zoom, registration is required.
How Not to Die Alone
by Richard Roper
Summary:
Smart, darkly funny, and life-affirming, How Not to Die Alone is the bighearted debut novel we all need, for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, it's a story about love, loneliness, and the importance of taking a chance when we feel we have the most to lose.
"Off-beat and winning...Gives resiliency and the triumph of the human spirit a good name." —The Wall Street Journal
All Andrew wants is to be normal. That's why his coworkers believe he has the perfect wife and two children waiting at home for him after a long day. But the truth is, his life isn't exactly as people think . . . and his little white lie is about to catch up with him. Because in all of Andrew's efforts to fit in, he's forgotten one important thing: how to really live. And maybe, it's finally time for him to start.
"Roper illuminates Andrew's interior life to reveal not what an odd duck he is, but what odd ducks we all are." —The New York Times Book Review
Discussion Questions
Richard Roper sets an exquisite tightrope balance of gentle humor and poignancy, his first chapter being a perfect example, how do you feel the first chapter set the scene?
What was your opinion of Andrew when the book began? Did your opinion of him change as the book progressed?
A little white lie is told by our main character, how did that initially make you feel, did your thoughts change as the story progressed?
Andrew has spent years living a lie. What effect does this have on his life? Do you know anyone who has lived a lie? What was it like?
Did any aspects of Andrew’s personality frustrate you, did you want to shake or hug him, or perhaps a mixture of the two?
Andrew asks Peggy: “Why is it that we find traditions comforting?” What do you think?
How do you feel the Council Death Administration department sits in the story, did you know such an organization existed before you read the book?
What did you think about Cameron’s attempts at team bonding within the Death Administration department?
There are several romantic relationships within the story, how did the background stories affect the growing fondness between Andrew and Peggy?
Peggy asserts that people only do “stupid, impulsive things” because of the knowledge that they’ll die one day. She says, “It’s like, in that moment, they’re sticking a middle finger up to death. You’re coming for me, I know you are — but watch this! It’s like a pure burst of living, isn’t it?” What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Andrew’s closest friends are those he talks to on his model train message board. What role do they play in his life? Have you ever made any close friends online?
Discuss the relationship between Andrew and his sister, Sally.
Andrew has dealt with a significant amount of death, both in his personal life and his professional life. How has this affected him?
How do you think Richard Roper deals with the subject of death?
Discuss the importance of Ella Fitzgerald and model trains in Andrew’s life.
Earlier on in the book, we learn about Andrew: “He knew that he was comforted by how much control he had with this simple little life of his. It was consistent and unspectacular and he had absolutely no desire to jeopardize that.” However, by the end of the book, his life is entirely different. What changes for Andrew? What drives him to take control of his life in a different way?
The book ends with plenty of possibilities. What do you think happens next? Were you expecting that ending?
What three words would you use to sum up this novel?