Curious Incident: p. 115-140, or chapters 163-179

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How does the anecdote about the Smarties demonstrate the idea that Christopher didn't understand that other's have minds?
What is the Turing test? How do the results of this test support Christopher's thoughts on the human brain?
What are your thoughts on Christopher's explanation of how the brain works? Does it make sense? What is confusing? What is enlightening about it?
Christopher spends nearly the entire chapter explaining the inner-workings of the brain, but he explains feelings/emotions in one sentence. Why?
Why is Christopher so detailed about his father doing the laundry? Why is he doubling by 2s?
The mystery of Wellington's death is solved. Is Christopher right to be scared of his father?
What does Christopher's initial attempt at running away behind the house tell you about him? Look at the details.
What point seems to be underneath Christopher's discussion of the naming of Orion? Why does he end this discussion by stating, "And that is the truth"?

A Note for Your Posts

As you can see, there are only five sections up here for this section of the novel...and you are required to comment five times...But I don't want you to think you have to do one comment in each one. You can do two or three comments under one heading, as there are many questions you could possibly address.

As long as you have five comments, I don't care which headings they fall under.

Curious Incident: p. 100-115, or chapters 151-157

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What did you learn about the relationship between Christopher and his mother from the letters he reads here?
What is the point of the analogy of the frog population fluxuations?
"Sometimes a mystery isn't a mystery." What does Christopher mean by this?
Christopher points out the amazing way in which all water is and remains connected. How does that relate to the rest of the chapter?
What is Christopher's emotional reaction to the revelation that his mother is not dead? How is his emotional state explained or shown through his own account here?
What are your thoughts about how his father handles the situation here? Does this make his father more or less likable?

Curious Incident: p. 74-99, or chapters 109-149

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Do you believe that Christopher isn't sad about the affair between his mother and Mr. Shears? What do you think of the logic he uses to explain why he isn't sad? Is it plausible? Does it make sense?
Do you notice anything interesting about the way in which Christopher remembers people? Anything that stands out as being different from how most of us remember people?
Our memories are often filled with images from our past. Explain in your own words how Christopher's mental visuals are different or are used differently than most people use their visual memories.
Why is Christopher's father so angry about the book?
Why do you think Christopher's father dug the book out of the trash and hid it in his room? Why not burn it or destroy it in some other way if he was so angry about it?
Christopher's father hits him, but he states that he did not mean to...did he mean to? If he didn't mean to, then how do you think that could have happened?
Why do you think the altercation is immediately followed by a chapter on why he hates brown and yellow?
Christopher's father appears to be genuinely sorry for his actions. What does he do or say that indicates that he feels badly for his actions?
Christopher has gotten sidetracked from finding the killer of the dog. How might his mention of Occam's razor indicate that he hasn't completely forgotten that investigation?
Dramatic irony occurs, essentially, when the reader knows more than the characters in the story do. For instance, we know long before Christopher does that his mother is not dead but has run off with Mr. Shears. Why do you think it took someone as smart as Christopher so long to figure this out?

Curious Incident: p. 50-74, or chapters 83-107

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 "Intuition can sometimes get things wrong. But logic can help you work out the right answer." Does Christopher's use of logic lead him to the right answers? 
Why does Christopher's father lie about his mother? Was it wrong of him to lie? Do you think less of him due to this lie, or do you understand him a little bit more? 
 "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by chance ever observes." Do you agree with this quote from Hound of the Baskervilles?
Why is Christopher so obsessed with being an astronaut? 
Do you think Siobhan knows about the Shears? Is she just protecting Christopher? 
What is it about Mrs. Alexander that makes Christopher able to talk to her even though she's a relative stranger? 
Mrs. Alexander tells Christopher (twice) that he can talk about things with her anytime. What do you think her motivation for saying this is? 
What is the purpose of Christopher's discussion of The Monty Hall Problem? Is there some symbolism here?
What do you think the smell is on Christopher's father and Rhodri? 
What does Christopher's inability to describe the garden show us?
What is the purpose of the extended explanation of the Sherlock Holmes story? 

Curious Incident: p. 26-50, or chapters 53-79

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What do you think of Christopher's reaction to his mother's death? What about his father's explanation?
If Mrs. Shears is a neighbor who clearly knows Christopher and his father well, why is she so cold towards him?
Why does Christopher have such a difficult time believing in the concept of Heaven?
What do you think of Christopher's casual view of violence?
What socio-economic level is this neighborhood in based on the neighbors that we meet? What evidence tells us this?
What do you think of Christopher's logic in his plan to find the killer?
There are neighbors that Christopher is afraid to talk to and that his father forbids him to talk to. Why aren't they the prime suspects?
What does Christopher's interaction with Mrs. Alexander tell you about Christopher? What does it tell you about Mrs. Alexander?
Do you agree that Mr. Shears should be the prime suspect in Christopher's investigation? What's up with his father's reaction to hearing Mr. Shears' name?
If Christopher is so smart, why is he in a school for students with special needs? Why does he want to set himself apart from them?
Are Christopher's goals for his education and adult life plausible?
Christopher promises his father that he will stop those things he's been doing to investigate the death of Wellington. From what you know of Christopher, will he keep this promise?

Curious Incident: p. 1-26...or through Chapter 47

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What significant differences do you see in this narrator in comparison to other narrators you have experienced? How do these differences affect the way in which the story is told? How do these differences affect the reliability of the narrator?

Why do you think Christopher fantasizes about being the only person left in the world? 

The novel's title alludes to Silver Blaze, a Sherlock Holmes mystery.When asked if there was any part of the evidence that seemed noteworthy, Sherlock Holmes mentioned "the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime." The police officer reminded Holmes that the dog had done nothing that night. According to Holmes, "That was the curious incident." Because the dog did not bark when the crime was being committed, Holmes deduced that the the dog knew the person committing the crime. This fact narrowed down the suspects and led to the case being solved. So based on what you know so far, what makes the allusion to this Sherlock Holmes story important in the title of this novel? Why is it significant?

Christopher clearly has some form of autism, and due to this, he has a unique perspective on things. How has his unique perspective opened your eyes to details or ideas that you haven't seen or thought about before? 

Christopher seems to be a very likable character. What about him makes him so likable? Or if you disagree with this, what makes him unlikable for you? 

Do you feel sympathetic towards Christopher? Empathetic? What makes you feel that towards him?

What did you think of the father's reaction to Christopher's arrest? 

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 10 -- Fin

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Our narrator places himself back into the story again with an account of the deaths he has recently encountered. What is significant about the wording?

Why would aliens be so interested in Darwin? Why would they be interested in golf?

How had O'Hare and the narrator become so "extremely well-to-do"? Why does the narrator repeat Billy's phrase about Wild Bob?

What do you make of the comments the narrator and O'Hare have after they read the population data?

Now we have the narrator, O'Hare, and Billy all together in Dresden...does this solidify Billy's story?

Why is Dresden described as being the moon? Do you suppose it's a fitting description?
If so, how?

What does the position and condition of the first set of bodies found in Dresden suggest?

I like this ending...but it might not strike you the same. Take a look at the last 3-4 paragraphs...do you think this was a good way for Vonnegut to end the novel? Did the narrator keep his promise to Mary O'Hare?

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 9

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What a bizarre way for Valencia to go. Since we know that writers can dispose of characters in any way they wish, why do you think Vonnegut chose this circuitous route to Valencia's demise?

Love the Roosevelt quote...

Why is Rumfoord brought into the story? What does he do to move the plot along?

Why doesn't Rumfoord believe Billy was in Dresden initially?

Billy and the Americans were looting Dresden...does this change your opinion of Billy?

What does it say about Billy that the only thing he cries about during the entire war is the condition of the horses?

Why does the Rumfoord section end after Billy mentions the Tralfamadorians?

Billy realizes that he has read The Big Board before. This novel kind of mirrors his own experiences on Tralfamador. What does this fact suggest?

What is significant about the Jesus story?

Why does Vonnegut choose to put Billy in an adult bookstore? What do we learn about Billy based on his reactions there?

So we see the serenity prayer again, this time on Montana's necklace...what does this suggest about the earlier encounter with the prayer?

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 8

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Although Howard W. Campbell, Jr., is a fictional character, "The Free American Corps" was very real. Look it up.

What do you make of Derby's stance against Campbell? What do you make of the fact that he's the only one to make that stand?

Why does Billy's daughter want to kill Kilgore Trout?

Kilgore Trout created the idea of burning jellied gasoline. What is this substance referred to as today? Where was it used extensively? Why is it important that robots created and used it in the book?

Another great description: "She was a dull person, but a sensational invitation to make babies." Made me chuckle.

Why do you think Billy reacts so adversely to the "old gang of mine" song?

Has anyone ever tried the mirror/dog trick? I wonder if it works...

Odd thing to say about one's son: "Billy liked him, but didn't know him very well." How do you think this came to be?

Odd that after the bombing of Dresden, one of Billy's strongest memories is that the guards reminded him of a barbershop quartet...

Bombing of Dresden: 2/13/45. Why does this date sound familiar?

So Billy fathered a child with Montana Wildhack. He also goes through the entire pregnancy with her while in the Tralfamadorian zoo. As far as characterization goes, what does this tell us about Billy?

What a bizarre scene...Billy and the Americans come out of the slaughterhouse to see Dresden utterly destroyed...they make their way through the destruction, and just outside of town they see an inn open for business. Why do you think Vonnegut included this seemingly unlikely scene?

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 7

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How can you know the plane is going to crash and not say something -- allow people the opportunity to make their peace with God, for instance?

How does the nature of the Polish songs characterize Lionel Merble?

Billy was in a mental institution, and now we find out he had a massive head injury in the plane crash...could this explain the fact that his narration is questionable at best? Later it states that -- while unconcious from surgery -- billy "dreamed millions of things, some of them true. The true things were time travel." True according to whom?

Why do you think Vonnegut includes the scene with the women showering?

Interesting to see how Vonnegut described the spooning of vitamins. It was as if his body was thanking him...Have you ever craved some type of nourishment and had your body thank you?

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 6 -- Dresden

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Again, Vonnegut starts with, "Billy Pilgrim says..." Does this mean Billy is an unreliable narrator to our narrator?

Vonnegut keeps describing Edgar Derby as the "high school teacher who would eventually be shot." Why does he keep reminding us of that fact?

How could the lumps in the jacket work miracles for him if he didn't question their nature?

"Golgotha sounds" -- anybody have a comment on the source of this allusion? Great phrase...

Isn't it odd to have dartboards and pool tables in a war? Are they included simply as touches of realism or for some other reason?

What are your thoughts on Lazzaro's canine revenge? What about his planned revenge on the Blue Fairy Godmother? What do these things reveal about his character? Should Billy be nervous, or is Lazzaro just a big talker?

Billy dies on 2/13/76, the day before Valentine's Day...is there any other historical significance to that date?

The state of the United States has changed. There are "20 petty nations" instead of one that is united. Chicago has been hit by a hydrogen bomb that was dropped by "angry Chinamen." These things have not actually taken place in history. What is the idea behind these facts? Why does Vonnegut choose this fate for the United States?

What is geodesic? Why is that important?

The flag described is a Hereford bull in a field of green. Anybody read 
Animal Farm? Seems to be a similarity between the flags. What is the significance of that?

Death is said to be nothing but violet light and a hum...no one else is there...not even Billy Pilgrim. Kind of depressing and empty.

What does the line drawn in the dirt by the Englishman mean?

What do you make of the fact that the Cinderella boots fit Billy perfectly? Is there any of the Cinderella story in Billy's story?

On page 146 in my book, the Englishman states that nothing in Dresden is worth bombing. If all of the reasons he gives are true, then why was Dresden obliterated by bombs?

Our narrator shows up in Dresden...behind Billy in the boxcar. What significance might there be in his comparing Dresden to Oz?

Since Billy knows that Dresden will be destroyed in the bombing, he takes in the beauty of the city with new eyes. Why is it that people generally don't take in beauty like this until it's too late?

What was the purpose of hiding a denture in the lining of the muff?

Slaughterhouse Five: Chapter 5

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What is the significance of the Tralfamadorians having only one book and the fact that the one book they have is Valley of the Dolls? 

Billy seems to be full of fear at age 12...fear of the Grand Canyon, fear of falling in, fear of having his mother push him in, the Carlsbad Cavern's roof falling in on him, a glow-in-the-dark watch...what's with all the fear?

I wonder what the American said to make the guard angry enough to knock him down...

The Englishmen had saved all that food...why not take care of the clerical error so that the troops on the front would have enough food?

New word alert: rodomontades

The British are shown to treat war as something stylish, reasonable, and fun. Why?

"The banquet hall was illuminated by candlelight." The candlelight was provided by candles made of human fat. grotesque image in an otherwise celebratory, welcoming environment...

Where else would one be able to take in a showing of Cinderella during WWII?

Why is it significant that Derby is reading The Red Badge of Courage?

So Billy was in a mental ward after the war...Does this make his story more or less plausible?

"So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe. Science fiction was a big help." How so?

Derby refers to the war as the "Children's Crusade." Where have we heard that before? Why is that significant?

Why do you suppose Billy is so averse to seeing his mother? Is the explanation of feeling guilty sufficient, or is there more to it?

Valencia sounds like a prize...

What do you make of the re-write of the New Testament?

Funny that the Tralfamadorian crowd goes crazy when Billy goes to the bathroom -- just like crowds at the zoo react when apes or monkeys go to the bathroom. What's up with that reaction?

Why can't humans follow the advice of the Tralfamadorians and just ignore the bad and celebrate the good?

What are your thoughts on the gravestone drawing?

What are your thoughts on Howard W. Campbell, Jr.'s thoughts on Americans and war?

Is Billy cheating on Valencia when he is sleeping with Montana, or is he absolved by the fact that it happens on a different planet?

Time's Up

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Time is up! Good job to those who posted before midnight...everyone who posted after or have yet to post, I hope you do a better job of time management for the second half of the novel.

A couple of notes:
1) Be on time! You have had weeks to get this done, and you will have two more for this next section. Waiting until the last minute is always a bad choice. If you want credit for your comments, they must be on time.
2) Make sure you are demonstrating thought in your posts...that is hard to do in two or three sentences. I asked for a solid paragraph. I hate to put sentences constraints on that, but be in the 7-10 range from now on. You might get away with less, but not much less.
3) A reminder that you don't have to answer my questions. You can talk about whatever you like...and even talk about what others have written about. Remember, this should be a classroom discussion...without the classroom.

Good job, and I hope you're enjoying the novel. Even if you're not, I hope there are some thought-provoking ideas here.

On to the next section!