The Southwest Book Club will meet on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southwest Library in the Meeting Room to discuss The Book of Unholy Mischief
by Elle Newmark. Taking a job as a chef's apprentice at the palace of the doge in 1498, the dawn of the Renaissance, Venice street orphan Luciano becomes increasingly suspicious about his master's shadowy past and learns about an ancient book containing a dangerous power. Rich with the luxurious colors and textures of Venice, this book delights the senses and breathes fresh life into an age defined by intellectual revival and artistic vibrancy.
Anyone age 18 or older is welcome to attend. The book club meets monthly at the Southwest Branch Library. For more information, please call 407.835.7323 or email firstname.lastname@example.org
Copies of this book may be reserved for home delivery or location pick-up at http://www.ocls.info
For more information, please call 407.835.7323 or email email@example.com
If you are unable to attend the meeting or you would like to join our discussion, you can share your thoughts or respond to the discussion questions below. Simply click "Comments" located at the bottom of this post. Join the discussion!
1. In The Book of Unholy Mischief, no one seems to know exactly what is in the mysterious book that everyone wants, but each character is sure that it has the thing he or she wants or fears the most. What does this say about human nature?
2. The chef needs an apprentice as well as a protege for his secret legacy, but he also wishes for a son. How does this and Luciano's wish for a father complicate the situation? In the last chapter, what point is the author making about biological parenthood?
3. How does the author make Venice one of the characters?
4. Throughout the book, the author uses food as a metaphor. Considering what the chef wishes to teach Luciano, why is the souffle the most significant recipe, and how does the lesson of the souffle impact Luciano's behavior?
5. How do Francesa and Rosa reflect women's role in society at that time?
6. In the last sentence, Luciano overhears something about a new theory and he says, "I turned around as if the chef had called my name." How does that ending work with the theme of immortality?
Discussion questions obtained at http://www.ellenewmark.com/discuss.php