The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 7

Why start the story of the tiger immediately following the story of the deathless man? Is there a connection?

Notice the foreshadowing in the first section of Chapter 7 (pg. 191 in my version).

What is a gusla? What is significant about this item that makes it a great symbol for the story?

We seem to get a lot of extraneous information in this story, especially about Luka. Assuming that it is not extraneous -- that the author does, indeed, have a purpose for this information -- what would that purpose be? Why do we need to know that Luka is a homosexual? Why do we need to know about his goals and aspirations? Find a piece of information that you thought was pointless and try to figure out why that information might actually have purpose and meaning.

Why does Vera allow the narrator's grandfather to carry on a relationship with the tiger's wife?

Do you think Luka was killed by his wife? By the tiger? Or do you think he finally just left?

Why do you think the tiger's wife gave him the hair?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 8

What do you think is in the blue bag?

Why does Dure stuff his relive's body into the valise? How would one even manage this?

Why does the narrator volunteer to go to the crossroads for Dure and his family? Is it only to get the kids to the clinic, or is there another reason?\

Although filled with superstitions, this burial is not much more odd than the burial traditions of many religions and cultures. What burial traditions do you find odd in today's society...or even in your own religion?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 9

How closely are taxidermy and the profession of the butcher associated? Is there a tie between Darisa and Luka? If taxidermy is "restoring the dead," what is the job of a butcher?

Interesting...we have Darisa hunting for Death, and the deathless man, who is related to Death...

What is the relationship between hunting and death? By default, then, what is Darisa's relationship with death once he becomes a great hunter?

Why wasn't Darisa with his cart and oxen? Was this a trap set by him to catch the tiger? Or the tiger's wife? And what hit the tiger when it attacked the oxen? Darisa was nowhere in sight...

Why did Darisa try to kill the tiger's wife and the narrator's grandfather? What reasoning would he have?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 10

What explanation can you come up with for Arlo's death based on the information provided? What causes the awkwardness in the conversation between the narrator and Fra Anton as he tells the story of his brother's death?

Why do you think Fra Anton is so protective of the narrator? What is he protecting her from (or, rather, what does he think he is protecting her from)?

Who takes the jar? Why do you think she follows the man?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 11

What would it be like to watch the bombing of Bedford on TV as we sat in our Bedford homes? Would we be like the characters in the book and stick it out? Go to coffee houses? I hope it never happens, but I wonder how we'd all react. Would we make signs of protest? Would we unite to save on of the stables full of horses in the area?

Disturbing images from Zora and the narrator's experiences in the hospital. How is it possible to deal with that level of destruction to the human body?

When telling of how crippled animals are treated in the United States, the narrator says, "They're self-righting." What does she mean by this statement?

On p. 283, the narrator pontificates about the differing natures of war. What might this reflect about the author's views of war?

Review the three sections where the narrator's grandfather starts his stories about the deathless man. Do the descriptions of the grandfather's actions as he begins each part of the story reveal anything?

On the bottom of p. 284, the grandfather tells about the religious differences between he and his wife. What point is he making here?

It just occurred to me to ask this, though I have wondered it throughout the story: why does the deathless man always ask for water?

What is narghile? tumbak?

Was the woman whom the deathless man was with the same woman who abandoned Luka on his wedding day?

Why do you think the deathless man's favorite story from The Jungle Book is Rikki Tikki Tavi's story?

The deathless man says the grandfather will die with suddenness, but we know that he suffers for quite some time before his death. How does this make sense?

Is there any significance in the death of the zoo tiger?

What is the deathless man suggesting when he tells the narrator's grandfather to break the cup?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 12

What is it about the apothecary's story that explains who he became as a person? What attributes would you imagine him having based on his experiences before he became an apothecary?

The apothecary learned that "people would turn first to superstition to find meaning, to stitch together unconnected events in order to understand what was happening." What do people in the United States today look to when they seek understanding?

Why does the apothecary kill the tiger's wife? How did this shape the narrator's grandfather?

What makes the apothecary so intensely still and "steady and resigned" as he waited for his execution? What had pulled the fight out of him?

Why does Marko say, "What has that got to do with anything?" Why isn't the burial spot of the tiger's wife important to him?

The Tiger's Wife: Chapter 13

So who is it that the narrator has followed? The deathless man? The mora? Someone else? What evidence leads you to your conclusion?

Is there irony in the fact that the narrator has promised not to tell the wife, yet she is telling us the whole story?

What are your thoughts on the ending of this novel? Is it a satisfactory ending? Why/why not?

Now that you have finished the novel, look at the last page where there are questions for a book club. Some of them are very good. You may want to address one or more of these here. If your version doesn't have the questions, find someone who does have the questions.

Tiger's Wife Chapter 1

In the epilogue, why isn't the narrator more affected by the tiger attack? It must have been traumatic to watch...After the attack, how is she able to still love the tigers instead of fearing them?

40 days of the soul...what religion are we talking about here? What war is being referenced?

Why is this family so secretive that they will resort to lies about health issues? Is your family like this at all?

Her grandmother clearly knows that the narrator is lying to her. Why doesn't she press harder once she knows this?

What's with all the drawings and portraits of the dog?

What does the fact that the parrot spouts poetry tell us as readers?

Why do Barba and Nada allow the diggers to stay at their house? What does this tell us about them?

Why doesn't Natalia tell Zora about her grandfather's death yet? They are supposed to be BFFs.

Tiger's Wife Chapter 2

What happened at Sarobar? What is rakija?

Have you ever had a ritual or standing date with a parent or grandparent that you grew out of over the years? Did you make it clear that you had outgrown it? How was that message received?

A view of wartime that we rarely get...those not close to the fighting were leading a relatively normal life. Does this seem surprising?

What would you do if there was a war going on in our country...say, in Minnesota (assuming the Canadians have attacked)? Would you go to school? Would you sell contraband on the black market? Would you try to acquire things from the black market? Where would you fall in this spectrum?

Why does grandfather act so defiantly, knowing that he may be risking his family's well being?

What is the strangest, most interesting thing you've seen at night? Share with us...if we're worthy...

Do you have any stories that have been passed down to you? Give a brief summary and then explain why the story is important to you.

What are your thoughts on the story of the deathless man?

Tiger's Wife Chapter 3

Why is Dure so adamant about not taking his kids to a doctor?

Do you see any parallels or links between this chapter and the the story of the deathless man?

Does your family or anyone you know still believe in and/or practice home remedies for illnesses? What are they? Do they work?

Tiger's Wife Chapter 4

How is anthromorphism put to work in the story of the tiger? What purpose does it serve for the author?

How does this tiger's story parallel that of Pi's story? How are the two tigers different at this point?

Great quote: "...if you are making your journey in a hurry, you are making it poorly."

Why is everyone in Galina so bothered by outsiders?

What would make someone want to entice a tiger with meat and continually bring it closer to them? If you were enticing a tiger, would you want to lure it further away from you?

What is a bey?

There are two stories about the tiger hunt -- the real story and the one manufactured by the survivors. Why do you think they made up the story they told to the town?

Tiger's Wife Chapter 5

Why would her grandfather have gone in search of the deathless man so late in his life?

How did the barman figure out that she was related to the man who had died (her grandfather)?

What is significant about the death of the boys?

Why is the narrator still being so secretive about her whereabouts when it comes to Zora, her bff?

This book relies very heavily on description. Do you feel the description serves a purpose most of the time, or do you think it's just window dressing? Give an example and explain your thoughts.

Tiger's Wife Chapter 6

It seems that a lot of older people get together to discuss and reminisce about things, sometimes at the VFW, sometimes the bingo hall, or sometimes at bridge parties. Do your grandparents do this? Your parents? What is their standing date with their friends? What purpose does this type of get together serve in the bigger scheme of things? What do these gatherings tell us about ourselves as humans?

Who do you think is the "stupid son of a bitch" that her grandfather is referring to while tending to the Marshall? What was the real cause of his illness?

Her grandfather makes two rather cryptic statements: "You'll be leaving God out of it, then," followed closely by, "With children, you're on your own." Explain what he means here.

How does one develop "nonchalance in the face of death"? Why do doctors need this attitude? Is it a healthy attitude for doctors to have? Does it make them better doctors?

What do you make of the story of the lake-house fire? Why is this such an important memory for the narrator? Why does her grandfather choose the day after the fire to continue the story of the deathless man? is there a connection?

What is your take on visions of iconic religious figures in everyday items (Jesus in a French fry, Mary in a bagel, etc.)? Do you believe these claims when you hear them? Have you seen one in person? How do you react to these sorts of claims?

Why does the deathless man feel that his situation is punishment? What makes it feel like punishment?

Chapter 7: Heavier Boots

What do you think compelled all of the Blacks to show up for Oskar's play?
Why does Oskar fantasize such a violent ending to Hamlet?
I wonder if The Cyclone is still standing after Hurricane Sandy...just wondering...
Oskar ends his Saturday with Ada Black by saying it was depressing. What do you think was so depressing about it?
Oskar has a growing list of cultural history created from old Mr. Black's stories. Anything stick out to you on that list? Any connections between the things on the list? Just wondering what you see or notice...
What is significant about the dates on the rocks?
If you were on one of old Mr. Black's cards, what one word would be next to your name? Tell me why it would be that word.
Why do you think old Mr. Black had turned off his hearing aids? Why do you think he was crying?
Why do you think we get the memory of message Message Three right after his visit with old Mr. Black?
How do you feel about Oskar's interaction with his mom at the end of the chapter? Why do you feel this way?
Oskar goes through a variety of moods in a very short period of time. Do you think these are actual moods, or is he just being dramatic?

Why is this chapter given the title "Heavier Boots"?

Chapter 8: My Feelings

Oskar's grandmother states, "He never took pictures of me, and we didn't buy life insurance." What does this statement tell us about the character and their relationship?

When did his grandma move? Where did she move to?

Why is it so important that Oskar's grandfather's hands didn't lose their roughness? What caused them to remain coarse?

Her mother's pearls are mentioned a few times. Is this significant? If so, why? Explain.

Why was she thinking of shoes?

"He promised us that everything would be ok. I was a child, but I knew that everything would not be ok. That did not make my father a liar. It made him my father." What is the significance of this quote? What does it tell us?

While helping her to learn about makeup, her mother cries. Why?

Why does Oskar's grandmother get rid of all the pers from the apartment?

Chapter 9: Happiness, Happiness

A very graphic, first-hand description of the atomic bomb attack on Japan. What is significant about Oskar's choice to share this with the class? How is it connected?

How does the story of Buckminster fit in on a deeper level?

Why do you think Stan pulls his hand back from Mr. Black when they are introduced?

There are some good sections that highlight the generation gap between Mr. Black and Oskar.  Which ones did you notice, and how do they help build the characters or the story?

Why does Oskar insist on finding out if Agnes Black had any kids? Is Mr. Black lying about the answer? If he is, why would he do that?

What do the letters from Gary Franklin and Jane Goodall tell us about Oskar? What does this second response from Stephen Hawking tell us?

Oskar states that he sometimes thinks that the key opens everything. What has it opened so far?

What do you learn about Oskar from his session with the therapist? What do you learn about his mother from the choppy conversation that Oskar eavesdrops on?

Why does he listen to his father's message when he gets home from his therapy session?

The chapter is titled "Happiness, Happiness." Why?

Chapter 10: Why I'm Not Where You Are 4/12/78

Why has this chapter been marked up in red? What does that tell you?
So Oskar's grandfather had gotten Anna pregnant before the bombing of Dresden. How does this change your view of him and his behavior when he gets the news that Oskar's grandmother was going to have his baby?
While he's in the hospital after the bombing of Dresden, Oskar's grandfather says he was operated on, but it was the nurse's touch that saved his life. Why do you think he says this?
He says that "thousands of people were left to suffer hope." What does he mean by this?
How does this letter to Oskar's father change your view of his grandfather, if at all?

Simon Goldberg writes his grandfather a brief letter. Goldberg is an actual figure in history...you may want to find out a little about him...and think about how this letter may have affected Oskar's penchant for writing letters to famous people.

Chapter 11: The Sixth Borough

Why does Oskar's father tell him the story of the Sixth Borough? What is the moral of the story here? How does it tie in with Oskar's earlier search in Central Park?

Chapter 12: My Feelings

Why is the interview with the father of the missing girl so important to this story?
There's a shift in the conversation...she starts off the story by referring to Oskar as "you"...then she shifts and says "I wanted to turn to face him, but I couldn't. I moved my hand to touch his hand." Assuming that this is not an oversight, why would she switch how she's telling the story (from telling him the story to telling us the story)?
Why is the sound that Oskar makes at the cemetery so important to his grandmother?

Why is Oskar's grandfather apologizing...or what is he apologizing for?

Chapter 13: Alive and Alone

I think it's the first time I've seen the phrase "extremely loud" in the book. In this case, it's pessimistic thinking that is so loud in his mind...not sure where that will lead...
Why are all of the envelopes empty?
Great description: "He was on one kind of carpet, I was on another. The line where they came together reminded me of a place that wasn't in any borough." Why is this such good description?
Why is Oskar's grandfather so reticent to tell Oskar who he is?
What do you find interesting about Oskar's visit with Georgia Black?
Why does he think of another letter from Stephen Hawking at this point? How is this significant?
Why does Oskar give himself a bruise at the coffee shop?
For the first time I see the phrase "incredibly close."
Why do you think Oskar has done so much research on 9/11?
It interests me and saddens me how much life has changed since 9/11...Oskar's fears at the Empire State Building would not have been fears before that attack...
I never knew a plane had crashed into the Empire State Building...or that it was built with moorings for zeppelins...
What is the heart of the story about the Empire State Building guide, Ruth? Why is it an important story?
How is it that Oskar doesn't know this is his grandfather, even though he gives the reader so many clues?

End of chapter -- "loud and close" again...