May Book Discussion -- The First Phone Call From Heaven

[BlueHeartScraps]

Hi ladies! I know I'm a few days behind posting this month's discussion questions -- but I was afraid with everything happening in the forum over the weekend celebrating iNSD, that the thread might get buried a little too quickly

If you haven't had a chance to finish (or start, lol) this month's book, no worries...there's still plenty of time to enjoy the book and take part in this month's discussion with us. If you need a digital copy to read along with us (epub, mobi, PDF) -- please don't hesitate to email me at ​

[email protected]

I'd be honored to share my copy to help others read and discuss with us!

Below are a few Book Club questions designed to start a discussion about the book -- however, feel free to ask questions, make comments and bring up any portion of the book you'd like. These questions are only intended to help get the comments flowing!

Can't wait to hear what all of you think about the book! ​

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]1. Are you surprised by the various reactions from the people who receive the phone calls from heaven? How do you think you would react if you were to receive such a call?

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]2. How do these phone calls from heaven change the small midwestern town of Coldwater? Do you think it would be different if the same thing happened in a major city?

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3[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]. One of the most serious concerns of the religious leaders was the idea that, "if people truly believed they were talking with heaven, how soon before they expected to hear from the Lord?" What are the implications of this question? Do you think this is a legitimate concern?
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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]4. Throughout the novel, Mitch Albom interweaves the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. Why do you think he includes this? How is it connected to the main story and how does it illuminate the novel's message?

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]5. Is Sully a good man? Describe him. What emotions motivate him when we first meet him? Is he the same person at the end of the novel? Why is he skeptical from the very beginning? Why drives him to find the truth? Did he do the right thing trying to find answers? Are the answers he finds those he was truly looking for?

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]6. The role of media and technology plays a big part in spreading the news of the phone calls. Is our instant connectedness ultimately a good thing? Can it have a detrimental effect?
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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]7. What propelled Horace to do the things he did? Were his motives pure? Sully accuses Horace of giving people false hope. Horace asks him, "What is false about hope?" Is there such a thing as false hope? Do you sympathize with Horace's actions?

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8[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]. How does belief enhance our lives, and how can it be destructive? Pastor Warren advices Elias, "If you believe it, you don't need proof." Do you agree with this? Should proof matter?

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]9. What do you think will happen to the characters and this town? What has the impact of the event had on all their lives? Was the event ultimately positive or negative? Did you have a favorite character? If so, what drew you to this person?

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[FONT=Verdana,Arial,Tahoma,Calibri,Geneva,sans-serif]10. Any final take away thoughts from reading The First Phone Call from Heaven?[/FONT]
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[LilyAnn]

1. Are you surprised by the various reactions from the people who receive the phone calls from heaven? How do you think you would react if you were to receive such a call?​

I’m not surprised at all by the various reactions. Everyone has their own opinion on most everything, including specific religious beliefs, especially when it is not doctrine. I don’t think I’d believe it if I got a call from heaven. If I had a visit from a ghost, that I will be more likely to believe.

2. How do these phone calls from heaven change the small midwestern town of Coldwater? Do you think it would be different if the same thing happened in a major city?​

These calls definitely put the small town of Coldwater on the map!!! Their police force wasn’t able to handle the influx, neither was the diner. If this happened in the city although we would notice, I don’t think it would be that dramatic. A place can only hold a certain amount of people before no more people can fit.

3. One of the most serious concerns of the religious leaders was the idea that, "if people truly believed they were talking with heaven, how soon before they expected to hear from the Lord?" What are the implications of this question? Do you think this is a legitimate concern?​

This concept was not mentioned in the story, but… I do not think that it would take long before people ask to talk to the Lord. After that who would they ask for, His Father? And after that, who knows? Then they would ask why did this happen, why did that happen, why flood, cancer, no cures, etc. Then this, I see, could become a nightmare. There are so many questions the world wants to know.

4. Throughout the novel, Mitch Albom interweaves the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. Why do you think he includes this? How is it connected to the main story and how does it illuminate the novel's message?​

The story of the invention of the phone proves that people can talk with others across the miles. When the phone was first invented people did believe it to be true. Just like the phone calls received in the story, at first many did not believe that it could happen.

5. Is Sully a good man? Describe him. What emotions motivate him when we first meet him? Is he the same person at the end of the novel? Why is he skeptical from the very beginning? Why drives him to find the truth? Did he do the right thing trying to find answers? Are the answers he finds those he was truly looking for?​

I think Sully is a caring man who was wrongfully charged for a bunch of incidents that happened as a result of someone else’s mistake. When I first “met” him I thought he was a homeless, jobless, ex-con. He didn’t believe the calls were real even though he was getting them. He didn’t know how it was possible. That’s what drives him to find out the truth. He did so much investigating to get to the truth. Although the answers he finds were not what he was looking for, I kind of feel it made him feel a bit better about being told his incarceration was not his fault.

6. The role of media and technology plays a big part in spreading the news of the phone calls. Is our instant connectedness ultimately a good thing? Can it have a detrimental effect?​

The media played a big role in spreading the news about the phone calls from Heaven. Whether it is good or bad depends on what side you take. Some liked all the attention and extra business the media brought to their small town. On the other hand, some like the peace and quiet they used to have. Needing extra law enforcement was also needed to control crowds and fights.

7. What propelled Horace to do the things he did? Were his motives pure? Sully accuses Horace of giving people false hope. Horace asks him, "What is false about hope?" Is there such a thing as false hope? Do you sympathize with Horace's actions?​

Horace was trying to prove to Sully that things weren’t as they appeared… to the point that he even changed his name when he bought his house. I don’t think the story would have developed the way it did if Horace used his real name. By Horace doing what he did, Sully said it was giving people false hope. But hope is hope, it is something to look forward to. I believe Horace did what he thought was right, making people believe. And he made Sully feel better knowing what really happened on the day of the accident.

8. How does belief enhance our lives, and how can it be destructive? Pastor Warren advices Elias, "If you believe it, you don't need proof." Do you agree with this? Should proof matter?​

Beliefs enhance our lives, if it is a common belief which usually can be proved by doctrine or science. But in Elias’s case, when Pastor Warren advises her that “if you believe it, you don’t need proof,” the whole town asks questions. They ask questions because it is something that no one has heard of before so they need proof and evidence that she certainly did experience the calls from Heaven.

9. What do you think will happen to the characters and this town? What has the impact of the event had on all their lives? Was the event ultimately positive or negative? Did you have a favorite character? If so, what drew you to this person?​

I think this town will grow some from all the people that visited, but nowhere near as many people as was there on the day of the telecast. Anna and Elisa will remain best friends! I think people will continue to ask questions about things they don’t know. That is human curiosity! I think my favorite character was Sully because I felt the accidents, although related, weren’t his fault. And by continuing reading I found out the truth about the accident.

10. Any final take away thoughts from reading The First Phone Call from Heaven?

I don’t know how I would have reacted if I received a call from Heaven. Would I run and tell everyone. Would I tell one close friend before I tell another. Or would I not tell anyone.

 

[CindyB]

1. Are you surprised by the various reactions from the people who receive the phone calls from heaven? How do you think you would react if you were to receive such a call?
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I think this concept was what drew me to the story. I would LOVE a phone call from heaven, I think of this call with my mom who passed almost 10 years ago...if we could have another conversation...this is something that I truly wish could really happen.​

2. How do these phone calls from heaven change the small midwestern town of Coldwater? Do you think it would be different if the same thing happened in a major city?
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It definitely hit a small town like Coldwater much harder than I think it would a big city. Where everyone knows everyone...it's hard to keep this type of news contained. The influx of visitors and people trying to get their own call is something I don't think they were prepared to handle.​

3. One of the most serious concerns of the religious leaders was the idea that, "if people truly believed they were talking with heaven, how soon before they expected to hear from the Lord?" What are the implications of this question? Do you think this is a legitimate concern?
​

This question I'm not sure how to answer...I would think it would pose a issue to religious leaders and how to answer their different congregations. I'm not super spiritual but I think those with a great deal of faith would have a deeper issue with this.

4. Throughout the novel, Mitch Albom interweaves the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. Why do you think he includes this? How is it connected to the main story and how does it illuminate the novel's message?
​

I guess it definitely adds to the story in the way that back then the notion that you could speak with people miles and miles away is virtually the same concept of us now being able to talk to heaven.​

5. Is Sully a good man? Describe him. What emotions motivate him when we first meet him? Is he the same person at the end of the novel? Why is he skeptical from the very beginning? Why drives him to find the truth? Did he do the right thing trying to find answers? Are the answers he finds those he was truly looking for?
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When I first "met" Sully...I believed he was a good person, and he truly was wrongfully charged. I think he was trying to protect his son from more heartbreak and that just fueled his skepticism. I think for him it was the right thing to do...digging until he found the truth eventually granting him the peace he needed.​

6. The role of media and technology plays a big part in spreading the news of the phone calls. Is our instant connectedness ultimately a good thing? Can it have a detrimental effect?
​

I think how this question is answered depends on the person. I personally thing that our instant connectedness isn't good. It definitely has a negative effect on our mental state. I see so much heightened anxiety when people can't get something right here, right now.

7. What propelled Horace to do the things he did? Were his motives pure? Sully accuses Horace of giving people false hope. Horace asks him, "What is false about hope?" Is there such a thing as false hope? Do you sympathize with Horace's actions?
​

I think Horace felt he was doing good, for sure. I can be a bit of a pessimist when it comes to hope. I would love to say that there is no such thing as false hope, but I guess I've just been let down too many times. If this happened to me...a phone call from heaven...I would just not want it know it wasn't true all along and live in my own little blissful bubble.​

8. How does belief enhance our lives, and how can it be destructive? Pastor Warren advices Elias, "If you believe it, you don't need proof." Do you agree with this? Should proof matter?
​

I don't search for the explanation to everything. If I believe it, that's it...​

9. What do you think will happen to the characters and this town? What has the impact of the event had on all their lives? Was the event ultimately positive or negative? Did you have a favorite character? If so, what drew you to this person?
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I think things will go back to normal...they seemed like a very tight community and I don't think even something as monumental as this would change the foundation. I guess I most related to Tess and was drawn to her the most. She was the first to receive the phone call from her mom.​

10. Any final take away thoughts from reading The First Phone Call from Heaven?
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It really made me think...what I wouldn't give for that phone call.​

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[AJsRandom]

1. Are you surprised by the various reactions from the people who receive the phone calls from heaven? How do you think you would react if you were to receive such a call?
I was somewhat surprised by everyone's reactions. I don't think I would react the same, though I do believe in heaven and have lost loved ones.

2. How do these phone calls from heaven change the small midwestern town of Coldwater? Do you think it would be different if the same thing happened in a major city?
They change it pretty drastically. All the people that come, they polarize the issue pretty quickly. Things change for businesses rapidly in ways that aren't always good. I do think it would be different if it happened in a major city. People are more cynical in bigger cities, I think.

3. One of the most serious concerns of the religious leaders was the idea that, "if people truly believed they were talking with heaven, how soon before they expected to hear from the Lord?" What are the implications of this question? Do you think this is a legitimate concern?
I think people would indeed crowd houses of worship for a while, but would become jaded if they didn't hear from the Lord after a while. They may even turn away from their faith. It is a legitimate concern for those of faith, but those who truly believed would not turn away.

4. Throughout the novel, Mitch Albom interweaves the story of Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. Why do you think he includes this? How is it connected to the main story and how does it illuminate the novel's message?
I think he includes it because Bell's life kind of parallels the story. The people in the novel endured trials just as Bell did- the creation of the telephone wasn't easy or straightforward and neither are the lives of the "chosen ones" or Sully.

5. Is Sully a good man? Describe him. What emotions motivate him when we first meet him? Is he the same person at the end of the novel? Why is he skeptical from the very beginning? Why drives him to find the truth? Did he do the right thing trying to find answers? Are the answers he finds those he was truly looking for?
I think Sully is a good man. He seemed to have a pretty good career in the Navy and took care of his family at the same time. That isn't easy. At the beginning he is driven by desperation and the need to take care of his son. No, I don't think he's the same person at the end. I think he's skeptical because of what happened to him- I think anyone could be. I think what drives him to find the truth is the fact that he didn't get to say goodbye to Giselle. There was no closure for him and he wants it. It's hard to say if he did the right thing in looking for the truth- I think it brought him some peace when all was said and done. I don't think he finds the answers he was looking for, but that he found the ones he needed.

6. The role of media and technology plays a big part in spreading the news of the phone calls. Is our instant connectedness ultimately a good thing? Can it have a detrimental effect?
Being instantly connected is not a good or bad thing, I think. It depends on how you use the technology, because I've definitely seen the downside of always being available. That being said, I've also seen the good side.

7. What propelled Horace to do the things he did? Were his motives pure? Sully accuses Horace of giving people false hope. Horace asks him, "What is false about hope?" Is there such a thing as false hope? Do you sympathize with Horace's actions?
I think he was propelled by grief and guilt, to name two. I don't think his motives were entirely pure because of that. There is false hope- I have experienced it myself. I don't really sympathize with him- I don't know where he's been or what else he has done (this is only hinted at), but it doesn't sound like he's lived a very virtuous life.

8. How does belief enhance our lives, and how can it be destructive? Pastor Warren advices Elias, "If you believe it, you don't need proof." Do you agree with this? Should proof matter?
Belief is the beginning of faith, and it can help us when our faith is wavering. You can believe in a wrong idea, and that can definitely lead you to trouble. I think that is a pretty true statement, and at least in terms of one's faith, proof doesn't matter. But it does matter in other areas.

9. What do you think will happen to the characters and this town? What has the impact of the event had on all their lives? Was the event ultimately positive or negative? Did you have a favorite character? If so, what drew you to this person?
I think the characters will return to their "normal" lives. As for the impact, I think all will eventually return to their previous ways (maybe not Sully), though it may take a while. I don't think the event was wholly positive or negative. I didn't have a favorite character, though I liked some more than others.

10. Any final take away thoughts from reading The First Phone Call from Heaven?
I really enjoyed the book- I went through it pretty quickly. I liked that there were characters of different backgrounds and beliefs. It made it a more interesting read.​