Shawnee Mission South Library: Project Lit Book Club

Meeting Thursday, Dec. 3 during seminar. Virtual meeting link will be emailed to group.

Contact Mrs. Fales if you need a book.

Author website

Discussion Questions

Be Not Far From Me

Google AI Questions

Character and Relationship:

• What are your initial thoughts on Florence and Jude's characters? What are their strengths and weaknesses? 
• How does Florence's declining vision impact her relationship with Jude and her own sense of self? 
• What are your thoughts on the dynamics between Florence and Jude, and how do they evolve over the course of the story? 
• How do Florence and Jude's shared experiences of loss shape their relationship and their individual journeys? 
• How does the setting of the art camp influence their connection? 
• If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast as Florence and Jude? 

Themes and Symbolism:

• How does the story explore the themes of love, loss, and memory?
• What is the significance of the three nights in the story?
• How does the title "Sunrise Nights" relate to the narrative and its themes?
• What is the meaning of the recurring motif of the sunrise?
• What are your thoughts on the use of the art camp as a setting and its impact on the story? 

Personal Reflection:

• What aspects of the story resonated with you most?
• How did this story make you feel?
• What did you learn from reading "Sunrise Nights?"
• Which character would you most like to meet?
• What do you think is the overall message of the book? 

Generative AI is experimental.

General & Character-Focused:

• How did the ending of "Celestial Monsters" make you feel? What were your expectations and did the book meet them?
• Which character did you find the most complex or intriguing and why?
• How did the main character(s) change or grow throughout the story?
• How did the secondary characters impact or influence the main character(s) or story?
• How do Teo, Niya, and Aurelio show courage, compassion, communication, and teamwork?
• How do supporting characters show integrity?
• Do you think the Gods supporting characters show any positive character strengths?
• Did any of the violence in Celestial Monsters surprise you? 

Theme-Focused:

• What is the significance of the sun and its connection to the gods in the story? 
• How does the novel explore themes of fate versus free will? 
• What does the book say about the nature of monsters and the monsters within ourselves? 
• What is worth sacrificing your life for? 
• How does the story explore the concept of balance and chaos? 

1. Would you recommend this book to someone?  Why or why not (or with what caveats)?  What kind of reader would most enjoy this book?


2. Did you find the author’s writing style easy to read or hard to read? Why? How long did it take you to get into the book?


3. Who was your favorite character? What character did you identify with the most?  Were there any characters that you disliked? Why?


4. Did any part of this book strike a particular emotion in you? Which part and what emotion did the book make you feel?


5. How much did you know about this book before picking it up? What surprised you the most about the book?


6. Was there any part of the plot or aspects of the characters that frustrated or upset you? If so, why?


7. How thought-provoking did you find the book?  Did the book change your opinion about anything, or did you learn something new from it? If so, what? 


8. Did you highlight or bookmark any passages from the book? Did you have a favorite quote or quotes? If so, share which and why?


9. From your point of view, what were the central themes of the book? How well do you think the author did at exploring them?


10. Compare this book to other books you have read by the same author, or other books you have read covering the same or similar themes.  How are they the same or different?


11. How would you adapt this book into a movie? Who would you cast in the leading roles?

Finally, here at Bookclubs, we like to end all of our book club meetings with this question:

12. Rate this book on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.  Why did you give the book the rating you did?  Did any part of this book club discussion change your rating from what it would have been directly after finishing the book? 

Discussion Questions & More!

SMNW Project Lit Questions (Thanks!)

From the publisher