Discussion Questions for Week Two

5/24/2021

Happy Monday!

Thank you for participating last week, how are you enjoying the book?

Questions for Week Two:
What do you think Justine sees in Nick? How do you think Nick feels about Justine?

Justine's advice to Nick is often to follow his dreams. What do you think about people being encouraged to chase difficult creative goals?

Do you really feel that Justine is done changing horoscopes?

What is your favorite Shakespeare play? Have you ever played a main character in a play? (doesn't have to be Shakespeare)

Check back throughout the week for more posts, and thank you to Lisa for the questions!

10 Comments

Sarah Muhlestein

5/24/2021 08:20:32 pm

I was into theater in high school but I was way too shy to ever have a main role. I mostly enjoyed being in musicals and the feeling of being apart of something powerful and creative and to be taken away into a different reality for a little while.

My favorite Shakespeare play would probably be Twelfth Night. I just love to see how all of the chaos and confusion unfolds and I am a sucker for a happy ending.

Lisa

5/26/2021 12:38:51 pm

That is so funny!! Twelfth Night is also my favorite Shakespeare play. My school produced the play when I was young and thought it was hilarious, plus I love the movie based on it. (She's the Man) I thought it was really cute.

Sarah Muhlestein

5/27/2021 05:09:21 pm

I love She’s the Man! So funny! I watched it for the first time after reading the play in high school and I thought it was so clever.

Nicole

5/24/2021 10:15:52 pm

That's a lot of questions. I think Justine and Nick's feelings for each other are born out of their friendship. I think the best relationships are those based on finding someone with whom you get along with really well and want to spend all your time. It's also nice to be with someone who really understands you and wants you to be successful in something that you love. I've hated the times when my husband hasn't loved his job or has felt unfulfilled.

We have an artistic teenager who has been telling us that she wants to be an artist when she grows up since she was 3, and we absolutely encourage her in her dream, but we also think it's important for her to have realistic expectations, though. She does art because she loves it, and while she'd love to be a famous artist, she also understands that it's unlikely. We've had a lot of talks with her about the importance of an education, and her plan is to get a degree in something else with a minor in art and to most likely do art as a side job or even just a hobby.

No way is Justine done changing horoscopes.

I love Shakespeare's comedies. British wit is my favorite. It's hard to pick, but probably Taming of the Shrew. I love that she's such a strong character, and there have been so many good adaptations of that one.

Lisa

5/26/2021 12:48:22 pm

That is also how I felt about Nick and Justine. They grew up together and had that as a foundation to start on. I think they would be really good for each other because they root for each other, while Laura just wants Nick to do what she wants. She doesn't care about his happiness.

That is so great that your daughter has that skill. Hopefully, one day her talent will be noticed and the career that she chose will become the side job. I completely agree with not pursuing it completely. My daughter wants to be a doctor, I tell her all the time that this is great, but it is a lot of HARD work. Yes it is more realistic to become a Doctor, but my daughter has an incredible lazy streak and I can't see her sticking with it. In time, I hope that changes as she grows and of course for now I will support her, she's only 13. I hope she gets what she wants in the future!!

Nicole

5/30/2021 08:03:19 am

I think that's smart. I think as parents we can see what jobs actually suit them better. We have another daughter who is an animal lover and wanted to be a vet for a while. She's smart and driven and not bothered by hard work or dealing with gross things, but she's also extremely empathic and sensitive, and I think it would be difficult for her emotionally to deal with sick/hurt animals and their upset owners all the time, so I'm glad she's recently changed her mind.
A true friend will encourage someone in their dream, whatever it may be, as long as it's a good fit for them, but also try to help them understand why it might not be the best dream to follow if it's not. So, it definitely depends on the individual circumstance whether or not to encourage someone to pursue difficult goals.

Sarah Muhlestein

5/31/2021 08:57:21 pm

I love what you said about your artistic daughter! I have one friend who is an amazing artist and another who is an amazing musician but neither of them want to do these things professionally because it would ruin the fun and creativity of it for them. They are both successful adults with unrelated jobs but they still do art/play music when they want to relax of enjoy.

Lisa

5/26/2021 12:58:07 pm

I have played a main role in a play. I couldn't tell you what play it was. I blocked that moment from my memory. I was in 7th grade and don't know what my English teacher was thinking. I have a really bad memory so I couldn't memorize my lines very well and was always getting yelled at for not knowing them during practice. I also have huge stage freight. I think I was shaking for the entire play. We were forced to do it for our English class so everyone in the class was in the play.

I don't think Justine is done changing horoscopes either, she'll figure it out somehow to get what she wants.

I think that Nick needs another Job, but shouldn't give up on his dreams, either. He is a really good actor and I think he will make it, but he shouldn't rely only on it right now, until he gets his foot through the door of success.

Margaret Heninger

5/30/2021 06:00:15 pm

I hope Justine is done with changing the horoscope....but we shall see! All that power might be addictive, even if it really is not leading Nick toward loving her as more than a friend! I think she is putting a little too much into her memory of their times together, and not really accounting for any changes growingnup might have led to.
I havent really read all Shakespeare's plays...and I've never been in any plays....I'm up for watching plays though!

Sarah Muhlestein

5/31/2021 09:01:33 pm

Oh I agree, she is not done!! I like your point about power being addictive! So true!

Discussion Questions for Week Two

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