Stories of Your Life and Other Stories by Ted Chiang
and Arrival the Movie Discussion Questions
Stories of Your Life and Other Stories was written by Ted Chiang. Arrival, the movie, is based on a single chapter entitled (not surprisingly) "Stories of your Life." After watching the movie, I was inspired to read the book thinking it was based on a novel. So, I had to make do with the one chapter that really didn't explain that much more about the movie. The movie does leave a person wondering. However, the book is still worthy because of all the other stories. Ted Chiang's book, Exhalation, was on a summer reading list by former President Obama.
If a book club has read the book or watched the movie, these questions are on a PDF instant download available at the next link. Click for your own copy.
Now for the book questions. Ah, Chiang seems to be somewhat of a technical writer and we must use our inferring reading and thinking skills to figure out what he means. This makes for a great book club discussion, while not an easy one. He offers us some thinking challenges.
My questions probably do not do the book justice as it is quite deep. A book club might take the discussion deeper, after beginning with the handout.
You might also enjoy the discussion questions for the books and movies, The Green Book, as well as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm from the Wise Owl Factory
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