Discussion Questions for Ondaatje's In the Skin of a Lion

For possibly the first time, we could not find discussion questions for a book club selection! I never thought Google would fail me but it happened.

So we decided to make our own questions! It was easy: through discussion of the book, we naturally had questions of our own. That and we've used enough of these sorts of prompts over the years that this felt like familiar territory.

I think the parts that we discussed the most and that intrigued us most were the historical elements Ondaatje encorporated into the narrative. It was fascinating to read about structures in Toronto, such as the Bloor Viaduct and the waterworks, and how they were built. We were all familiar with Ondaatje's literary style and found this book a more satisfying read than Divisadero, a past werking title pick.

And now what you've been waiting for: Discussion Questions! Scholars we are not but these are some topics we wondered and discussed ourselves.



1. Why does Patrick's father become a dynamiter? How does this influence Patrick's life?

2. Patrick watches Finnish loggers skating at night, observing them at play. How does this prelude his later interactions with other immigrant communities?

3. Why does Ondaatje include historical people, places and things in the novel? Ambrose Small and Rowland Harris are historical figures - does this influence the way the novel should be read or does it just ground the story in Toronto history?

4. What is the symbolic significance of Patrick becoming a "searcher"? How is he a searcher throughout his life? What is he searching for?

5. What is the nature of Clara & Alice's relationship?

6. Alice describes several distinct periods in her life. How does her art and career as an actress imitate her life or does her life imitate her art?

7. Patrick is a Canadian-born living and working amid several immigrant communities in Toronto. Describe how the novel illustrates the nature of community and belonging for Patrick and the new immigrants.

8. Throughout the novel there are detailed descriptions of miserable working conditions among the poor and working class and, by contrast, the extravagant lifestyle of the rich, including Harris' decision to use herringbone tiles at the waterworks. What political or social commentary does the novel make?

9. Patrick sets out to destroy public property after Alice dies. Were his actions triggered by grief or is he trying to make a grander social statement? Who does Patrick blame for his grief and how does he choose his targets for the vandalism?

10. Who owned the bag of dynamite Alice was carrying when she died?

11. Was Patrick's confrontation with Harris a dream/fantasy?

12. What does the novel say about obsessive love? How is Clara's relationship with Ambrose toxic? Why does the novel end with Patrick goes to Clara?

13. What is the significance of the title and prefacing quotation from The Epic of Gilgamesh?

Onto Book Three, Delightfully

I'm actually gonna do it. I'm actually gonna get through all five Canada Reads books before the debates! Woo hoo!

I started with The Fat Woman Next Door Is Pregnant, by Michel Tremblay. This is the ultimate example of NOT judging a book by its cover. The front is stark white, with a cheesy circular cutout revealing a waving old woman with too much makeup on... kitchy! Even if the woman is the author's mother... still! However, I loooooved the book. I just found out that almost all of my family comes from Quebec, and although they were moved into southern Ontario by the time the second World War began (which is when this book is set), I still found it fascinating to learn about the slang used by the Quebecois, their thoughts on the Europeans, and the tight communities found in Montreal. The mythological component pushed the book beyond the "really really really good read" point, all the way to, "I'm going to recommend this to everyone I talk to!"

Next came Outlander, by Gil Adamson, which I chose as January's book club book. I must say, so far I'm very impressed by the Canada Reads selections. Outlander is a beautiful account of a half-mad woman running from her dead husband's brothers- and her husband is dead because she shot him with his rifle. Hooey! Well, the account is as beautiful as a story of that nature could be. I loved this book because it's set in the wilderness and tells how the widow survives- through her own actions, and her own dumb luck (or is it fate?) It's an adventure story, a love story, and a thriller all rolled into one. And it's awesome.

Now I'm reading The Book Of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill. I'm only a few pages in, so I can't really comment on it too much yet. But so far, I like it. As mentioned, I've been digging into my family's history lately, and I think my favourite ancestor is my great x 4 grandfather, Jean Baptiste Gignac. He was born in Quebec in 1746, which is right around the time when the protagonist in this story is born (except she was born in Bayo, in the Congo). Being able to relate on that level will make the book much more enjoyable for me, I think!

I Sound Like A Broken Record...

Again, I have to admit to not posting much on this blog. Nothing really to admit to, since it's plainly obvious. Could it be that blogging was just a phase, a trend? Maybe for me. I hope I jump back on the wagon, though, since I do like the idea of blogging. It's just getting around to actually doing it that's a problem. There's a huge, seemingly unavoidable, expanse in my mind, between ideas and actions. Like those giant puddles on every street corner in Toronto, after a snowstorm followed by a rise in temperature followed by a rain shower (such weird weather we have). Meh!

Anyways- I'm posting today about Canada Reads! The books have been announced, and I've chosen one for our next book. The Outlander, by Gil Adamson. I read the summaries for each book, and this one seemed the most interesting to me. Plus, it shares a name with one of my all-time favourite books, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I don't think the books will share much else than that, though.

I'm hoping to get through all of the five chosen books for this year's Canada Reads debate. I've never been able to do it before- I've never even gotten close (probably because I haven't really tried). This year, though, will be different. Ha! Luckily, there are a couple lighter reads, mixed in with some of the daunting, heavier ones (literally, and subject-ively speaking).

Oh, if anyone is struggling to think of a gift for me, you can pick me up all five books at a discount from CBC... just thought I'd throw that out there! LOL!