Book club discussion: Liger Games

[Jan Darby]

The Cherry Forums -- a community of readers and writers, which is sponsored by Jenny Crusie -- has book club discussions a couple times a month. The one scheduled for June 1-7 will feature Liger Games. I'll be there to answer questions, and other people wiser than I will be there to comment on the themes and symbolism I didn't even know I was creating!

If you'd like to join in the discussion, you can read the comments by going to the forums and then clicking on the book club thread, without registering. If you'd like to comment, you'll need to register, and I'd recommend doing it in advance, because the process is done personally, not automated, so it can take a day or two. Make sure to read the FAQ before posting; the rules are simple, but the forum is fairly strictly moderated to keep discussions on topic.

I hope to see you there. Meanwhile, here are some of the questions we'll be discussing:

1. Mark, the shapeshifting hero, was inspired by a real liger (lion-tiger hybrid) seen at a Renaissance Fair; his brother Matt (in a sequel-in-progress) was inspired by a Smothers Brothers routine featuring pumas. What species of wild animals do you find most inspiring?

2. Emily, the heroine, is a professional organizer. Are you more likely to be her client or her competition?

3. Baby (Mark's nickname when in his liger form) takes up most of the space in Emily's bed. Which makes sense, given that he's ten feet long when stretched out on his hind legs, and weighs in the vicinity of 900 pounds. The author's housecats (admittedly four of them, but only about 40 pounds total) somehow do the same thing and even manage to steal all the covers. Do your pets do that?

4. Ignoring all the totally irresponsible aspects of doing such a thing, have you ever fantasized about having a wild cat living in your home (like in the movie, Bringing Up Baby)? Have you ever imagined what it would feel like to be the wild cat?

5. According to a recent feature in RT Magazine, one of the latest trends in romance is: contemporary (paranormal or not) series set in a small town with a variety of recurring secondary characters. Do you have any preferences as to setting? Do you like to see recurring secondary characters or do you find them distracting?

6. Some critics claim that erotica and humor – sex and laughter – are incompatible and essentially cancel each other out. What do you think?

[Rachel Fox]

Wow, a book club discussion on a forum sponsored by Jenny Cruisie. Can I say I knew you when? Have fun and enjoy your time in the spotlight.

I loved Liger Games -- and yes, my cat, one tiny little six-year-old black and white, does take up a lot of space on my bed. I have to arrange myself around her!

Rachel