Basically, ben day knew his crazy girlfriend, diondra, had strangled his little sister to death and he went to prison to spare her jail. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. The following contains spoilers for the book and movie dark places. Today is our discussion of gillian flynns dark places. Diondras parents leave her alone for months at a time, with just three dogs for company. The sole survivor of a family massacre is pushed into revisiting a past shed much rather leave alone, in flynns scorching followup to sharp objects 2006 on a january night in 1985, michelle day, ten, was strangled, her nineyearold sister, debby, killed with an ax, and their mother, patty, stabbed, hacked and shot to death in the family farmhouse. I have the book, but tend to use this online one to read on my phone at night. Heart of darkness part 1 you should probably read the book firstit is very short and then read and learn this quizlet. Lets keep book club going from the safety of our own homes.
Hey, they could squeeze it between dark minds and dark temptations for a dark triple threat. Aug 07, 2015 the title alone should be enough caution, but im going to warn you anyway. Aug 21, 2017 ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. I know the funds began to also come from the other womens group. That night, libbys mother and two sisters were brutally murdered.
Discussion questions from authors website under readers guide gillian flynn interview article on dark places usa today article on the differences between the movie and book. As her family lay dying, little libby fled their tiny farmhouse into the freezing january snow. It strikes me that the societycalled the kill clubbears resemblence to. Groups exist, from people obsessed with jonbenet ramsey and other bizarre. Dark places by gillian flynn libby was seven years old when her mother and sisters were massacred, one freezing winters night, leaving her traumatised, suffering from frost bite and believing that her brother was the murderer. There are multiple dark years covered in dark placesand multiple dark days, too, as libby day circa 2009 works to uncover the truth behind her familys murder on the night of january 2, 1985. What is gained by switching back and forth between time periods. Dark places not exactly a subtle title, either is like the best investigation discovery show that never existedbut in book form. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Dark places november book club discussion babbling books.
The screenplay, by paquetbrenner, is based on gillian flynns 2009 novel of the same name. Dark places is a book that will keep you intrigued. No matter the genre, age, notoriety, or length of the book of the moment, book club questions can kickstart or enhance your group discussion. Does that make the club members strange, unusual, or sick people. To make matters worse, the killer was her older brother, ben. Dark places discussion questions by gillian flynn author bio. Dark places discussion questions mentor public library. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of dark places by gillian flynn. Author of gone girl, gillian flynn, spoke to us about her novel dark places, and. Usually i roll my eyes at flashbackdriven efforts, but not so with dark places. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading dark places. Ive been in a lot of book clubs, and i know its not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. The novel deals with class issues in rural america, intense poverty and the satanic cult hysteria that swept the united states in the 1980s. Read on for the best ways to find book discussion questions as well as my top ten generic book discussion questions that will work for anything you may choose.
Oct 01, 2015 book club questions for in a dark, dark wood by ruth ware part of the richard and judy spring 2016 bookclub. If youve read gillian flynns book, drop by the book club page any time this week to discuss like like. Jun 10, 2010 dark places is a book that will keep you intrigued. I finished dark places a few weeks ago, and like others finished it just so i could see who did it. Almost thirty years later, she reluctantly agrees to revisit the crime and uncovers the wrenching truths that led up to that tragic night. Entertainment weekly flynn follows her deliciously creepy sharp objects with another dark tale. Dark places was shortlisted for the crime writers association ian fleming steel dagger award and won dark scribe magazines black quill award for dark genre novel of the year. Home book discussion groups libguides at american library. Gillian flynn talks dark places, satanism and heavy metal. Dark places truly is about the dark places in our minds. Gillian flynn is excellent at creating unpleasant characters and disturbing situations. Dark places is a mystery novel by gillian flynn published in 2009. The story, alternating between the 1985 murders and the. Based on the comments on instagram already this was definitely one with mixed feelings from.
A lot of people compare dark places to gone girl and say, book wise, gone girl was the better book. The kill club is a group of truecrime obsessives who share. Delve deeper into the books making the charts, and get tips for keeping your reading group engaged. Aug 08, 2019 many libraries provide meeting space for book clubs or administer one or more book discussion group. Even the key protagonist has to grow on the reader. When a group of murder nerds challenge her version of events, and seemingly having nothing better to do, 30 year old libby sets out to prove. Just got the pod version, which looks great and just feels great to have a hard copy in hand to read, but i have to add the very bizarre addition of about 50some odd pages at the beginning of the book being a printing for an entirely different book about stencil drum kits. What a depressing book about depressing people who lead such depressing lives. This study guide consists of approximately 56 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of dark places.
In one of my past book clubs, we literally only read books that included discussion questions at the end of the book because we wanted to be certain wed have a meaningful discussion. As libbys search takes her from shabby missouri strip. General book club questions for study and discussion. I actually liked dark places better, so when i found out they were making it into a movie, i was of course skeptical about whether or not itd be good. Anyone who has read the book is welcome to join in, although i will tag those who expressed an interest in participating in the first comment. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Pour a glass of wine and make a snack and well talk about dark places. A former writer and critic for entertainment weekly, her work has been published in 42 countries. Book discussion questions books mysteriesthrillers.
The elements that worked in dark places include a great plot, deftly written characters and a great twisty ending that you wont see coming. Libbys brother, ben, who in 2009 is still in jail for the crimes. Dark places was shortlisted for the crime writers association ian fleming steel dagger award and won dark scribe magazines black quill. And yet, i found myself returning to the book more often and more quickly than any i have read since i read the stieg larsson lisbeth salander trilogy. On to dark places, flynns second novel, which is all about the lone survivor of a horrifying family murder and the weirdo group. Hoorah, its book club week dark places was aninteresting reading experience. How did the book affect your view of humankind versus nature. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss. Dark places alternates between the present day and 1985 when ben day allegedly massacred three members of his family, his sister libby being the only one to escape and testify as a witness, sending ben to a life in prison. Free dark places online pdf burn it or buy it books. It stars charlize theron, christina hendricks, nicholas hoult, and chloe grace moretz.
Sure, this novel is fiction, but like all great fiction, it draws upon real emotions, like our fascination with. She survivedand famously testified that her fifteenyearold brother, ben, was the killer. The satan sacrifice of kinnakee, kansas is her claim to fame even 25 years later, and in many ways, the. This page provides general information about book groups, including with one book programs, some resources for guiding book groups, references for specific types of book groups, and an anonymously contributed guide to establishing and running. Indark places, her equally sensuous and chilling followup, flynnhas conjured up a whole new crew of feral and troubled young females.
Dark places by reading guidebook club discussion questions. Oct 14, 2014 16 gillian flynn plot twists crazier than gone girls. Jan 27, 2014 ballymuir series book summaries dark places divergent dorien kelly gillian flynn gone girl john grisham markus zusak sharp objects spoilers discussion the boldest man in ballymuir the book thief the brightest flame in ballymuir the last bride in ballymuir the racketeer uncategorized veronica roth. Dec 14, 2017 are you always struggling to come up with book club questions to help guide your group discussion. She graduated at the university of kansas, and recieved a masters degree from northwestern. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions.
If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction. Dark places is dark and has some disturbing depravity so it may not be for everyone. Coming off the success of gone girl, dark places is the adaptation of gillian flynns 2009 novel of the same name and its all about revisiting an old case 25 years old who some say is still. Gillian flynn goodreads author topics about this book topics that mention this book. Sep 05, 2016 does your book club need a little help in creating conversation. How does the author foreshadow the harrowing events of saturday night. While runner is not physically abusive to the days, he is a terrible person. This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. And the dignity given to them by god, is practically snuffed out by their degradation. What is it about violent crime that both repels and fascinates people. Gillian flynns books can be frustrating at the best of times, but the ending of dark places truly annoyed me. Throughout the book, who did you think was the real killer. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.
She grew up alone not because her parents both died, nor because she was left behind, but because her mother and two sisters were murdered by her brother. As a christian, i forget that there are people like this. Twentyfive years later when libby is contacted by a secret society to reveal details from her past, she does so at a fee. Flynn, who lives in chicago with her husband and two children, grew up in kansas city, missouri. Novels by gillian flynn, george pelecanos, john hart. What is the author trying to say with this technique. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. We read and discuss fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and poetry and host live chats and interviews with leading authors.
We discussed the book and came up with some interesting topics and points about the book. Do you have any thoughts, questions or discussions about in a dark, dark wood by ruth ware. I actually felt that at its conclusion, this book is a comingofage story posing as a. There are multiple dark years covered in dark places and multiple dark days, too, as libby day circa 2009 works to uncover the truth behind her familys murder on the night of january 2, 1985.
Throughout the central chapters, we watch the process of mining for men, as the worlds leading drillers jeff hart in particular are called in to break through the earth. The massive hit gone girl movie was also adapted from a popular flynn novel, which is why the dark places trailer and poster boasted the fact that this film was based on. Fantasyfaction fantasy book discussion public group facebook. Dark places, a mystery by gillian flynn published in 2009, deals with class issues. Both stories end with dont read the end of this sentence if. And diondras father threatens to kill her if she ever has sex outside of marriage. Dark places is a book capable of leaving a nasty aftertaste and vague uncomfortable feeling for days after finishing it. He is hinting that london was one of the dark places on earth north pole. As a member or leader of a book club, you are likely to be reading books on a wide variety of topics, both fiction and nonfiction. This month on the triskele book club, we discuss dark places, by gillian flynn.
What similarities do you see between the crime depicted in dark places and realworld crimes like the clutter murder in truman capotes in cold blood. Im still not totally sure how i feel about the book, so im definitely looking forward to hearing others reactions. If youve read gillian flynns book, drop by the book. Dark places gillian flynn, 2009 crown publishing 368 pp. Each switch back to 1985 is like the tumblers on a lock giving that satisfying click as you pick it, breeding anticipation and certainty that there is a rich reward at the end for your efforts, every scene evoking a subtle revelation that drives the story onward.
I enjoyed this book because it was not your run of the mill light and happy kind of book. Aug 04, 2017 this book delves into the cesspool of humanity. In a dark, dark wood shifts between past and present. She survived and famously testified that her fifteenyearold brother, ben, was the killer. In a dark, dark wood by ruth ware book club discussion. A readers guide for dark places by gillian flynn for additional features, visit in order to provide reading groups with.
Libby day was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered in the satan sacrifice of kinnakee, kansas. The kill club is a macabre group obsessed with true crimes. Dark places, by gillian flynn, begins with the main character, libby day, talking about her life. As her family lay dying, little libby fled their tiny farmhouse into. Libby day was only eight years old when her family was brutally murdered in their rural kansas farmhouse. Ive never come so close to throwing a book across the room. I try hard to get out into the world and be a light in dark places, but admittedly i am surrounded mostly be people like me. Halfway through the book, i guessed who the killer could be, but did not imagine the night would go down the way it did, haunting and bloody. Now, after years of living on the donations made by concerned members of the public.
She lost some fingers and toes, but she survivedand famously testified that her fifteenyearold brother, ben, was the killer. Mar 26, 2016 hoorah, its book club week dark places was aninteresting reading experience. Throughout dark places, libby, patty and ben unknowingly echo one others dialogue and thoughts. Dark places by gillian flynnflynns second novel is a wonderful evocation of drab smalltown life, writes laura wilson. The 9th girl by tami hoag the accursed by joyce carol oates in the woods by tana french. This summary of dark places includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. Burn it or buy it books message board free dark places online pdf. Ballymuir series book summaries dark places divergent dorien kelly gillian flynn gone girl john grisham markus zusak sharp objects spoilers discussion the boldest man in ballymuir the book thief the brightest flame in ballymuir the last bride. The midtown book group meets the 2nd wednesday of every month from 8. Several members in libbys family were murdered when she was only 7 years old. How did this shifting structure impact your reading of the novel and your perspective on the various characters. Find resources for your book club, whether it meets in your living room or across cyberspace.
Dark places is a 2015 mystery thriller film directed by gilles paquetbrenner. For anyone that didnt want to buy the book or is having trouble getting it in time from the library, i found a free online pdf. Open discussion of the whole book below, no spoilers needed. Spoiler dark places by gillian flynn the loyal bookworm. Dark places discussion questions burn it or buy it books.
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