March 2020 Book Club Discussion – The Water Dancer

It’s the third month in 2020 and to say it is an odd month is an understatement.

Mid-month individuals and families have been asked to stay home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some may be working from home; some may be out of work; some may be homeschooling. Life has been turned upside down for the time being. It’s hard to know where to begin.

This month I haven’t been motivated to read after trying to balance all of the other tasks, but I did finish the March book The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (affiliate link). I originally chose this book because it was an Oprah’s Book Club Pick and an interesting combination of genres: fantasy & historical fiction.

With my head back in the game, let’s talk about March’s book The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (affiliate link). Did you love it? Hate it? Not get around to read it? Read it a long time ago?

Not sure where to start. Try some of these discussion questions. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments by picking one or more question or add your own review. If you use these for your book club, share some of your member’s thoughts about this read.

The Water Dancer Book Club Discussion

1. What drew you into reading The Water Dancer?
2. Which character could you connect to the most? Which one the least?
3. How has Hirim’s past shaped his his life? What role does this play in developing his character?
4. Morality is defined throughout the text differently for each character. How does each character (Hirim, Sophia, Howell, & Corinne) view morality?
5. Coates chose to have the historical figure, Harriet Tubman, present in the novel. The two both possessed the power of conduction. What role did she play in Hirim’s life and how does that impact the story?
6. What themes are explored throughout the The Water Dancer? How might these themes connect with the world today?

Thanks to those that joined us in March on this collective read. Please share your thoughts in the comments. This is an ongoing, open discussion thread.

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If you missed February’s post, but have read or want to read  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo (commissioned link), follow the link to the discussion questions and leave your thoughts! This might be a perfect read given Covid-19’s Stay at Home order. Has anyone else been cleaning and organizing this month?

April is National Poetry Month, so 365 Days of New is reading Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley (commissioned link). This book is written in prose, so hopefully readers can appreciate the beauty in this style of literature. The main plot is about a teen, Liv, whose brother, Jonnah, accidently shot himself and is in critical condition. Liv is battling stress from the incident as well as within the dynamics of her family who are struggling to cope. I’m looking forward to reading and talking about it at the end of the month.

Check out all of 365 Days of New’s 2020 book club choices here.