I, Robot by Issac Asimov

 Adding a sci-fi thriller to the list!

I enjoyed this, even though some of the concepts were a bit over my head :(.  Logically, everything presented made sense and I kind of liked the utopian ending.  What did you think?

I also liked how it was happening in our current time - in fact, I am the exact same age as the robopsychologist, Dr. Susan Calvin.  She's a psychologist, too, so fun!  I liked how she was a female leader in the ever-growing world of men and basically everyone went to her for answer on why the robots have gone wrong.

The level of suspense in this book definitely would classify it as a thriller.  I was always wondering when the robots would take over, like you would see in all the robot movies out there, even the one with the same title!  Not going to spoil the ending for you, but you will see that the anxiety was not worth it.

Join the discussion by signing up for our BOOK CLUB.  Use the FREE code ROBOT for the I, Robot meet-up.

Discussion Questions:

Borrowed from Reading Group Guides

1. Do Asimov’s now-famous Three Laws of Robotics mirror humanity’s ethics code in any way? Whose orders are human beings required to obey? Do our definitions of "harm" ever lead to the same confounding dilemmas experienced in I, Robot?

2. Why was Gloria’s mother unable to accept Robbie as an excellent nursemaid? Was Robbie premonitory on Asimov’s part—a prediction that children in the twenty-first century might form intense emotional attachments to electronics?

3. Cutie (QT) questions his origins and finds it impossible to believe that a human created him. In what ways did Powell and Donovan reinforce this belief?

4. Does the case of Stephen Byerley indicate that robots might make better politicians? Would this only hold true if, as the novel envisions, nations dissolve into massive world regions?

5. What is the ultimate commodity produced by U.S. Robot & Mechanical Men, Inc.? Does our global workforce follow this model in any way? Were humor and compassion inevitable traits in the robots? Do these traits interfere with productivity in the world of I, Robot?

6. In the book’s closing lines, Dr. Susan Calvin tells the narrator, "You will see what comes next," as robots stand between mankind and destruction. How did her career lead up to such a precarious conclusion?

7. I, Robot has been turned into a major motion picture starring Will Smith. How does the movie compare with your book-reading experience? What do you think of the adjustments made and liberties taken when converting this collection of stories to one seamless film adaptation?

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

  How do you decide the future of a young girl that can't speak?  She has 3 likely guardians that all want the best for her (or do they) and will do anything to protect her from the scary world outside of the "House of Glass."  Actually, it is more like a "plastic" house.  The obscenely rich family decided to remove all glass from the house after the recent tragic death of their nanny - who fell to her death from the third floor after crashing through the window!

Did the young girl (Rose) witness this accident, or was she more involved and was this an accident at all?  Why isn't she speaking?  Stella Hudson thinks she knows - traumatic mutism (is that a thing?).  She suffered from the same thing after her mother's death.  She has also been assigned to investigate the best possible custody option for Rose, now that her parents are divorcing.  However, the nanny's death (Tina) is still under investigation and the cops suspect foul play.  If Stella doesn't know who the killer is, does she risk granting custody of Rose to a murderer?

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB AND LET'S DISCUSS.  FREE CODE = BARCLAY

Discussion Questions

1. The story opens up with Stella observing Rose (her future client) heading to her weekly therapy appointment.  She watches as she picks up a shard of glass and hides it in her pocket.  What do you think the significance of this scene is and why do you think the author chooses to open the book with it?
2. Later, Stella meets her soon to be ex-husband, Marco, at a bar to sign their divorce papers.  What did you find most intriguing about this scene and its importance to the book's overall plot/themes?
3. Marcos' mother is later introduced in the story for a short time.  Why do you think the author chose to highlight this relationship?  Was it important to the book's overall plot/themes?
4. Stella finally enters the Barclay's residence and there is much commotion with construction and family members busying themselves about the house.  What was your first impression of the Barclay family?  What was your first impression about the house, as Stella described it?
5. Rose and Stella have a disorder the author names "traumatic mutism," which is a form of "selective mutism."  Do you think this exists?  What do you think causes it?  How do you believe it can be cured?  What are the parallels between Rose and Stella's mutism?
6. Stella has a confidante in Charles.  Is this a good or bad relationship?
7. Tina - the nanny - was important to the plot because her death seemingly sparked the family's fracture.  Do you think that the family was intact before the death or were there other signs?  If Tina did not join the family, would this have happened?  
8. The introduction of another character to the family, Harriet, also made an impact on the dynamic.  Do you believe the family would have been able to survive without Harriet but with Tina?  Or without both of them?  Could Ian, Beth, and Rose be a close family with just each other?
9. Did you find the ending shocking?  Believable? Tragic?
10. What do you think will happen next?

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

 Is this actually a thriller?  No, more like fantasy, but I guess I let one slip :)

The book is endearing and lovely, though, so it is fun to take a break from the murder and mayhem everyone once and a while.

The love interest is a bit weird for me, maybe it is the extreme age difference and that feelings began when the girl was just a young girl (13 years old).  However, that may not be true for the male counterpart.  You decide.

There are a lot of different psychological elements in this book either way.  Attachment, depression, loneliness, isolation, trust issues, etc.  So, we will definitely have a lot to talk about during our BOOK CLUB!

My favorite character is definitely Christopher.  He represents innocence, hope, love and excitement all in one.  He also has the element of tragedy and loss in his character, which makes him appealing and endearing.  He could be the glue that keeps this story going.  What do you think?

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB AND LET'S DISCUSS.  Here's the FREE CODE = CLOCK

Discussion Questions

Taken from: 

Book club questions for The Wishing Game | Bookclubs

1. The Wishing Game revolves around the Clock Island books that so many children loved when they were growing up. Did reading this book remind you of when you fell in love with reading? What was your favorite book (or book series!) as a child?
2. The themes of “family” and “parenthood” are woven throughout the novel. Discuss each character’s experiences with family and how this impacts their decisions and motivations.
3. Lucy, Hugo, Christopher, and Jack all struggle with deeply rooted fears. How does each character face and overcome these?
4. Why do you think Jack Masterson recreated Clock Island in the real world? Why do you think it wasn’t finished before the game?
5. The author sometimes pairs scenes from the Clock Island books with chapters of The Wishing Game. Discuss how these two stories connect and why the author made this stylistic choice to help tell her story.
6. So much of the novel deals with family, especially the idea of “found family.” What do you think of the idea of “found families”? What do you think defines what “family” really is? Who is in your family of choice?
7. Were you surprised by the outcome of the contest?
8. What do you make of Hugo’s comment to Jack that he “can’t save the world”? How does Jack try to save everyone around him?
9. If you could travel to any fictional world, what would it be?
10. Who would you cast as each character in a movie adaption of The Wishing Game?