I am so excited to be reading this book and happy to be participating in the read along and book discussion. As an added incentive to me--this is the first book that I am reading on my new Nook!! Huzzah! :)
Discussion Questions for Chapters 1-6
1. Waterfall opens with the introduction of Gabi, she's depressed, a little angry and is dealing with feelings of loneliness. Are you connecting with her this soon in the novel? Do you see things you like or dislike?
This book is definitely Young Adult...and sadly...I am definitely no longer a young adult. So i'll say that although I do not really relate or connect with the character of Gabi, I certainly like her plenty from early in the novel. She's got just the right amount of pluck to keep me happy.
2. Gabi gets to time travel back to 14th Century Italy- The Dark Ages in its prime. Is there anytime in history that fascinates you and would you travel back if you could?
There are tons of periods that I'd love to experience (assuming of course that I had an immediate "get out of jail free" card handy) I'd love to see Victorian England...Colonial America, and the French Renaissance.
3. Most of the men, including Marcello have a very set opinion about a woman's place. Gabi gets manhandled a bit in these first few chapters, and even gets asked if shes a witch. The men are shocked when Gabi rides a horse like a man and shimmies down the castle walls. What do you think of mens mentality back then? Gentlemanly, chauvinistic, simple-minded?
I believe it to be the same as a man's mentality today. That mentality being shaped and formed by the cultural and religious mores of the time.
4. When Gabi becomes a part of this era, the people are immediately intrigued but suspicious of her. Many judge her by her difference. Do you think this is fair? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like an outsider or that others were misjudging you?
I'd love to say that I've never felt like an outsider, but that would certainly be a lie. I'm sure that every one of us has, at least once in our lives, been caught in a place or situation for which we didn't feel ourselves properly equipped and thus felt judged whether we actually were or not. That said: is it fair to actually judge people by their differences? Well that is certainly a loaded question with plenty of gray area. Certain things are considered culturally acceptable for a reason...were there no boundaries and no way to define acceptable behavior, we'd live in constant chaos. But should there still be room for open expression and growth as an individual, family, and society? Of Course!
5. What do think the coolest thing would be about living in the Dark Ages? What would be the worst?
I think that the best thing about living in the Middle Ages would be the closeness to nature. No industrialization or mechanization. Eating food grown by my own hand, wearing clothes stitched by my own hand...having that independence from society and self sufficiency as a family unit.
The worst thing - no indoor plumbing..ughhh! LOL
Oh wow- great answers Melissa, I would love to see Victorian England as well...
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I disagree on is the men.. I think we have much more open-minded men now day..and a lot of lazy make their girlfriends and wives take care of them while they play video games men....
...but maybe Im biased because I have such a kick-butt husband who works his tail off and loves me....:D
Completely agree that number 4 was a loaded question with many gray areas. I completely think we should be non judgmental but I also think with Gabi's situations and others you need to protect yourself and be suspicious.
ReplyDeleteNo indoor plumping would get to me, too, Melissa!! :-P
ReplyDeleteI'm finding so many different time periods that people would love to visit and each time I think to myself "oh yeah, I forgot about that" Colonial America would be interesting!
ReplyDeleteSpot on with number 4, Melissa. There are certainly many shades of gray. I think our cultural differences is what makes the world such an interesting place, regardless if we agree or disagree with those differences.
ReplyDeleteThose are GREAT time periods to visit!!!
ReplyDeletePlumbing...the things we take for granted! haha :)
I'm so with you on plumbing.
ReplyDeleteI like your travel ideas too.
We all seem to have a lot of stress over the thought of no indoor plumbing, I love it:) Victorian England would be amazing, I would absolutely go there with you!
ReplyDeleteI long for a time of no electronics & closeness to nature, eventhough I am responding on my phone. Sometimes we don't live in the moment anymore.
ReplyDeleteGreat reasoning behind #1, maybe that's why I didn't connect with her, because I'm so not YA age? I found her to complain and whine far to much for my tastes.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I didn't think of this "having that independence from society and self sufficiency as a family unit." but it does sound like a big benefit!
That was number one on my list of reasons why I don't want to time travel...no running water/indoor plumbing! We all agree on that one!
ReplyDelete@Tina--I think I perhaps didn't explain myself very well on that one. I agree that men are more openminded now...but feel that it's more a product of current culture than any true change in mankind. They're just products of their environments as we all are.
ReplyDelete@Lisa & @Missie--Exactly, the bottom line was that they were bringing a stranger into their family...the fact that she was different gave them every right to ask questions.
@Katie, @Jacinda, @JuJu, @ Jenny, & @Grace--I am not suprised that so many of us thought about plumbing!!!
@Julie--There are so many interesting time periods to choose from!
@Amy--I completely agree (of course if I could survive after being 21st century trained is another matter)
@Gina--I find that I really have to like the character to get into YA books...perhaps since I was never even a "typical" teen myself.
I like the idea of self sufficiency as a family unit - growing your own food etc it does seem simpler but the reality would probably be quite harsh too.
ReplyDeleteColonial America WOULD have been a cool place to visit! Nice choice. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked your answers! Hope you enjoy the book as we go though the next few weeks of discussion questions -- I know I sure did! :D
Thanks for commenting on my blog. :)
Awesome. I have wanted to read this book and you just made me want to even more!
ReplyDeleteLike you I would def love to go back in time to many different periods but only if I could leave right away when I wanted to, and not be stuck there for any given time.
ReplyDeleteAlso I think everyone is freaking out about the no indoor plumbing :)
I'm about the farthest thing from a History Buff there could be -- (I learned all my history from fiction -- and Mrs. Delzell, although she mostly talked about FDR, so...) Oooh, French Renaissance sounds fun, but I'd want to be humming revolution songs from Les Miz the whole time, probably, cuz that's just how I roll. No powdered wigs for me, though. I pay good money for this hair! ;-)
ReplyDeleteBTW: LOVE your pics on your header!
Love your answer to question five! And agree with it whole heartedly. I am trying to de electrify my children as we speak and get back to doing family things. I used to have an organic garden, however, I stop at the meat part. Can't even fish! We'd be vegans!! And I would sorely miss my indoor plumbing. Although that bath sounded tempting every once in awhile, I'd like a flushing toilet!
ReplyDeleteHeather
i'm another Victorian england time traveller !
ReplyDeleteand i'm reading an ebook of Waterfall as well...
Melissa, astute and thoughtful answers--thank you! One of the most thought-provoking ideas I had was how it would be to be a foreign person in a familiar land...and how it might be very similar to finding yourself in an unfamiliar place today. Love that kind of concept...human issues that transcend time. Thanks SO much for taking part in Waterfall Wed! Looking forward to next week!
ReplyDeleteI agree, I would love to be closer to nature. Sometimes I feel like I'm never outside because I'm either at school, home, or in a car.
ReplyDelete@ My Keeper Shelf--so true that the past is romanticized...I am sure it would not be half as cool as we all imagine!
ReplyDelete@Jane--I am sure that I will love the rest of it:)
@MaryBeth P--So glad that you stopped by!
@mrs_laura_koehler --We definitely need that magic pass home!
@Serena--I wish I could take credit for the lovely pictures...they came with this free blog theme at Use Your Imagination Designs
@Buried in Books--I hope to start an organic garden next year!
@Faith Hope Cherrytea--I'm learning to love e-books!
@Paris--You need to make the time for things that are importnant to you :)
@ Lisa Tawn Bergren I am so glad and excited that you stopped by my blog! I am loving Waterfall and can't wait for next week!!
ReplyDeleteI agree being back to nature and the simpler things would be the best thing. And I think we all agree no indoor plumbing would be horrible. Awesome answers :)
ReplyDeleteI started liking Gabi more after she went back in time, she started to appreciate what your parents taught her. It seemed like she kinda grew up a little.
ReplyDeleteI would like working as a family unit and the closeness it brings.
What a fun and great idea in sharing this book. I'm definitely going to have to check it out. Sounds like a great read. And I love your answers. You go girl.
ReplyDeleteC.K. Volnek
It does sound like a simpler time without all that technology... but I would miss my internet and indoor plumbing! Still, to be so close to nature would be wonderful, I agree!
ReplyDelete