Submitted by TL Hines on Mon, 02/18/2008 - 23:01.
If you're reading "Waking Lazarus" as part of a book club, thanks. Download a printable list of discussion questions, or browse the questions below.
{ Discussion Questions for Waking Lazarus }
1. Why do you think the book was called Waking Lazarus? Was it an appropriate title for the story?
2. The main character’s name is Jude Allman. Do you think this story is an allegory--something that’s about “all men” (and all women)? In what way?
3. The book deals with some unsettling subject matter: violence against children. Why do you think the author built the story around this subject?
4. The book is set in Red Lodge, Montana. Why do you think the author chose to set the story in a real town, rather than a fictional town? Does it add anything to the story?
5. After Jude falls through the ice in the first scene, “another idea came to William (Jude’s father), an unsavory idea he chewed on for a moment while looking at the black hole of water.” What do you think this idea was? Why was William thinking it?
6. Jude begins the story as a character who is a borderline schizophrenic, but by the story’s end, he’s grown. (For instance, he’s able to sleep while lying down, and he doesn’t fear outsiders breaking into his home.) What do you think was most responsible for his “healing”?
7. We typically think of celebrities as living lives of luxury and comfort. But the book suggests that both our public figures and our culture are warped by the celebrity/fan relationship: Jude’s mental problems can be traced to his celebrity status, because people always “want” something from him. Do you think our culture is too celebrity-obsessed, as the book suggests?
8. Early in the book, Jude tells his father William about one vivid memory of them together, flying a kite. Near the end, William says, “I remembered flying that kite with you...and now that I think about it, the wind wasn’t all that bad.” Why do you think this memory of kite flying becomes important to both of them? Does it symbolize something?
Waking Lazarus
Excellent novel. I think it is the first work of yours that I have read. I loved the title and it is what attracted me to the book. Now I am looking at your other works so that I can read more. I am a voracious reader (sometimes can cram 3 or 4 books in a week) and read a bit of everything, depending on mood, etc. I read yours in less than 2 days in between all other activities. It was hard to put down. Thanks for a great read and a new author that I can follow.
Waking Lazarus was a most appropriate title. Lazarus, who Christ raised from the dead.... and this particular Lazarus (Jude) had to be 'raised' in more ways than one.
And don't all of us have to be 'raised' as we discover Christ? get to know Christ? follow Christ? We are being raised in a multitude of ways.
The violence with children is happening all around us and what subject repels us more than violence against our children? Children, the innocent, Jesus's precious Ones... yes, this was a good center to the story.
As far as Red Lodge being a real town or a fictional town probably only matters to those who live in Red Lodge (seeing as it is a real town). Otherwise, I never heard of the town, didn't know if it was real or not, nor did I know if Bingham was real or not; but then it made no difference.
I could tell William was seriously thinking of letting Jude go under the ice... I knew there was a reason and I figured that reason would be revealed but then that was the draw of the story... it was like a piece of taffy, pulling the reader right through to the center of the story.
Jude was healing because he was being 'awakened' - his mind was opening to possibilities of God's grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. He hungered for things he spent years stifling - human touch, trust, love - all those wonderful things many of us take for granted.
And you bet our culture is too celebrity-obsessed. Our kids look up to celebrities and I really have to wonder why? Is it because they simply are inundated with celebrities in magazines, TV, radio, commercials and billboards? All the flash and glamour? All the surface fixings? Why do people cheer/scream when in the company of celebrities but cannot cheer/scream for our God who created it all? Yet, celebrity status to those who have it, is also insidious... people are overtaken with the culture without realizing it until it is too late. Very few celebrities can remain 'real' people with all the 'fans' clamoring for whatever they can get from them. Reporters, photographers, fans, agents, even 'friends' drain celebrities dry... what a price to pay if a celebrity loses his very essence to money and fame.
I loved the kite flying conversation Jude had with William. Jude brings it up as a 'good' memory and William can't concede to it... he gruffly grouses about the wind - and then in the next conversation, William relents and says '... the wind wasn't that bad...' or something to that effect.
Just loved the book and now that I realize who Kristine is... want to read it again... very seldom do I read a book twice. Kudos to you TL Hines. To God be the glory.
Post new comment