WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PRESSURE?!?!?!?!

I'm sure you're wondering, so the post title is a quote from one of the greatest movies of all time: ACE VENTURA: PET DETECTIVE. And why I used that quote is for the reason that for the first time in this book club's illustrious history, one of my books has been chosen for the discussion. And as has become the tradition, it is up to me to come prepared with a plan for this discussion. Historically, the book's benefactor brings a list of discussion questions with which to guide the book club's discussion.

Well that is certainly a good idea, but during these discussion questions I always find myself in a state dangerously similar to the constant state of Arthur Dent in our current book. And that state is utter and complete confusion. Every book club question is way over my head. Every time. Every single stinkin time. "What statement do you think the author is making about the current political situation in the middle east?...  The improbability drive is clearly a metaphor for corporate America. Discuss... This book has permeated our popular culture and parodies government, politics, religion and big business... blah blah blah look how smart we are with these existential questions..." To quote one of my childhood inspirations, Butthead (from the show BEAVIS AND BUTTHEAD) "Uuuhhhh Whhhuuuttt? huhuhuhuhuh." I always try to put on a good front and pretend to know what the heck is going on but the sad truth is that those questions bring me right back to 11th grade literature class with my teacher giving me that "I really pity you with your idiotic lack of literary understanding" look almost on a daily basis. I guess I'm just not very smart.

So since it is my duty to bring the book discussion questions for this meeting, I have a problem. I have done the proper research and found several websites with discussion questions but I am faced with the same old problem: they are all way over my head. And for this book how in the world can you really super analyze it? I mean its just a crazy, whacko, pointless, HILARIOUS book of nonsense. Is there really a deep, underlying, subconsious message?? Well, one thing is for sure, if there is, I am surely not the one who will pick up on it.

So since this meeting is the Baron show, the Baron is taking his 15 minutes of Novel Spirits literary fame. I'm taking you all down (way down) to my intellectual level. I've scrapped all the internet's questions, and come up with a few of my own. Additionally, I thought I might suggest that we play a few games as well? Like party games, sometimes referred to as "drinking games". You might have heard of them. But I wanted to run this all by you all first to give you time to subtely tell me "no" if necessary. I'm still marinating on any possible games we might play, but here are a few question ideas that you can either prepare for or veto:

1. Did you enjoy the book? If yes, why? If no, why?
2. In Vogon fashion, please prepare a short poem describing your views on the book.
3. The Hitchhiker's Guide's entry for Earth is: "Mostly harmless". If you created an entry for Earth in the Hithhiker's Guide, what would your description be?
4. Which character would you like to be? Why?
5. Which character would you definitely not be? Why?
6. What's up with the towel? What would be your equivalent to their towel be? Why?
7. In your opinion, is this book comedic genius or just a load of crap?
8. Do you know anyone with the personality of a Vogon? (Of course you do, lets talk about that)
9. If this book can be written, any book can. What would the book you write be about?
10. Favorite quotes of course!! This book is chock full of them.

We don't have to use all (or any) of these, but they are more on my level. And I posted them early to give you a chance to think about it. Or if you have different ideas, let us know so we can adjust accordingly prior to the meeting.

And as I said, I still haven't finalized all the possible games we might play (assuming you want to do this), but I'll give you a couple freebies:
- every time someone is chastised, we all take a drink
- any time anyone becomes (or even looks) as confused as Arthur Dent, we all take a drink
- high school superlatives for the main characters in the book
- ...more to follow hopefully

These are all just me brainstorming after enjoying somewhere between one and thirteen delicious Sierra Nevada Celebration Ales, so take that for what its worth. We don't have to do any of these if you all don't want to.

Games or no, I'll be drinking :)