Week One (4/16/20):
Welcome to the Ascension Parish Library virtual book club on The Spanish Flu Epidemic! We are so happy you have joined us. Here we will discuss the overall structure and expected timeline of our club.
This book club will run from today, April 16th to June 4th, totaling seven weeks. Each week will focus on specific chapters in the book, and the discussion questions will reflect the reading. Staff will post a summary of the week’s reading and three to five discussion questions as comments underneath that post. You can reply both to the discussion questions and to each other’s comments.
You can reply to as many discussion questions as you like, but we encourage you to reply to at least one other person’s reply as well.
Everyone should feel that their beliefs, opinions, and backgrounds are respected. We encourage you to share how you connect with the book and to include text from the book that supports your idea. It is helpful to know that Hoopla changes the number of pages in the book based on the type of electronic device you are on; therefore, if you are wanting to call attention to a portion of the text, it might be most helpful to simply mention what chapter it is in. We do not want to stray too far from the spirit of the book, and we ask that you do not include links to outside sources in your writings (though we encourage you to cite any sources that do enhance your reading). We may from time to time include background information that can be found directly through our library’s resources.
Thank you so much for joining us.
There has been much comparison between the current pandemic and the Spanish flu of the early 1900s.
ReplyDeleteConsider the similarities and dissimilarities between the Spanish flu and the current COVID-19 pandemic as presented in the first three chapters.
Are you surprised by how relatively new our understanding of viruses is?
ReplyDeleteDid chapter 2 add to your understanding of viruses? In what ways?
What new knowledge did you gain from the book that surprised you most?
ReplyDeleteI was unaware that the 1918 pandemic occurred in several waves with the first being fairly mild and the second being much deadlier. I find it a bit alarming considering the first wave of COVID 19 is beginning to reach its peak in the US. As restrictions are lifted, I wonder when the "2nd wave" may begin and how severe it may be.
DeleteDo you feel like the book gave you a better view of Gavrilo Princip as a human being? Had you ever considered what his life or thoughts were like after the assassination?
ReplyDelete