Short Fiction

Best of the Bonnet, The

• Praise:

  It’s fantastic, it’s hilarious … The Daily Bonnet is so funny!

  —Miriam Toews

Motherish

• Book Club Questions:
  1. After reading “Good-Enough Mothers,” what do you think it means to be a ‘good enough’ mother?
  2. A ‘maquiladora’ refers to factories in Mexico that export what they produce. Why do you think the author chose to title this chapter “Maquila Bird”? Do you think there is anything ‘motherish’ about the secret labels Maru sews onto some of the garments she makes?
  3. In “Transit,” the heavily-pregnant narrator is very much ‘in transition’ to motherhood. What transitions are expected of women who become mothers? How do the narrator’s actions fit into these expectations?
  4. In what way do characterizations of ‘fatherhood’ reflect upon the nature of motherhood in the story “Let Heaven Rejoice”?
  5. In “At the Track,” the narrator’s adult is life is strongly impacted by the experiences she had with her grandparents at the horse racing track. Is there a particular brand of ‘mothering’ that is expected of grandparents? In what ways does this story rewrite them?
  6. In “The Winnings,” the narrator’s fiancé works at a cardboard plant. What are the other ‘boxes’ the narrator is faced with inhabiting? What do you think makes it difficult to break free from them?
  7. What are the different versions of motherhood presented in “Me and Robin,” “Masters Swim,” and “The New Kitten”?
  8. In “Leaping Clear,” womanhood could be considered the driving theme, rather than motherhood. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
  9. In “Woman Cubed,” is Dale’s secret admirer actually a man, or something else? Why is his intervention important for Dale? What is the significance of the name he gives her, La Reine Anguille, or the Queen Eel?
  10. After reading “Mother Makeover,” do you feel there is an inherently competitive element to motherhood? Explain.
  11. In “A Flock of Chickens,” Rae-Ann has a motherly role as a teacher; however she is also a woman with sexual desire, as she enters into a relationship with her colleague, Rick. After reading the story, do you think it communicates anything about the societal expectations forced on sexually-active women who are mothers? Why do you think the chicken coop is a place of refuge for Rae-Ann?
  12. Which short story did you like best? Why?
  13. Which short story did you like least? Why?

Armin's Shorts

• Book Club Questions:

  From the Gutenthal Galaxy

  1. From reading the stories in ‘From the Gutenthal Galaxy’ how would you describe the community of Gutenthal?
  2. What themes or motifs do these Gutenthal stories have in common?
  3. Two of the stories feature Oata as a character. What do you make of her?
  4. Water is a feature in three of the Gutenthal stories. What significance does this have?
  5. What is your impression of Gutenthal men as presented in these stories?
  6. While four of the stories in the first section are written in a first person voice, the stories in this section are written in third person. What difference does that make?

  Beginnings

  7. In her cover blurb, Susie Moloney says, “I don’t think ‘Barn Dance’ will ever leave me.” What characteristics of the story might have led her to say that?
  8. Do the styles these Gutenthal stories are written in enhance or hinder your reading experience?
  9. Why might this section be labeled ‘Beginnings’?

  Subarctic Stories

  10. In the stories ‘The Little Kollouch’ and ‘A Woman Who Married Yamozha’, are the first person narrators convincing as women? Why or why not?
  11. What do the three stories in this grouping suggest about the importance of stories and their role when cultures meet?
  12. How do these stories make you feel about your own stories?

  The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz

  13. In the story ‘And Besides God Made Poison Ivy’, what questions are hinted at but not answered?
  14. What do you notice about the narrative voice of the first five stories in this section?
  15. How would you identify the era or time period of the stories in this section?
  16. What are the dilemmas Suschkje faces in ‘Engel Bengel’ and ‘Mary’s Creek’, and how does she handle them? Are her actions credible?
  17. In ‘Moonlight Rehearsal’ the narrative voice changes from the previous five stories. How does that affect your reading experience?
  18. How would you characterize Suschkje? Kjrayel Kehler? Beethoven Blatz?
  19. What do you see in the relationship between Suschkje and Kjrayel?
  20. How about the relationship between Suschkje and Blatz?

  Olfert

  21. How would you describe Olfert’s world and his place in it?
  22. What links these five stories?
  23. What strikes you about Olfert’s relationship with women?

  Return

  24. What are these last two pieces about?
  25. Are these final pieces stories or poems? What makes you think this?

  General questions about the book

  26. Would you recommend this book to other readers? Why or why not?
  27. What role does music play in these stories?
  28. Comment about Armin Wiebe’s use of language. Does the inclusion of “non-English” words enhance or hinder your reading experience?
  29. What wines and finger food would complement a discussion of Armin’s Shorts?

Boy Lost in Wild

There Can Never Be Enough

Margaret Lives in the Basement

What You Get at Home

What the Bear Said

• Book Club Questions:
  1. When emigrants come to Canada, do they bring their beliefs with them? Can you think of instances in your own family of beliefs, ideas that were brought to Canada?
  2. Magic is a way for people to explain the inexplicable. Nowadays, there is a lot more scientific knowledge that explains why landslides occur or bad weather ruins crops. What do some of the characters in the stories attribute bad events to?
  3. What did you find surprising about the factual material in the stories?
  4. In Iceland there are no large animals except for the occasional polar bear that drifts ashore on an ice flow. What kinds of animals would the settlers had to have faced?
  5. How does the author use magical creatures to demonstrate his view of life?
  6. In the 1800s, Iceland was the poorest country in Europe. What details in the stories
  7. make it clear that the settlers were poor?
  8. In “Windigo” why does the author make the hero of the story, Jón Litli. Why not make the hero a large, strong man?
  9. Do you think that Hjálmar, the main character in the story, Freyja, will get married in Canada? Why wouldn‘t he get married in Iceland? Who do you think he might marry? Is his reason the same or different that Sigga in “Sigga’s Prayer”?
  10. In “The New World” why do the ghosts weep? Do you think that the ghosts might also represent the immigrants? Why might the immigrants weep?
  11. What do the stories tell you about the fate of the magical beings? Why do you think that might be their fate?
  12. “Loftur” is a love story but it is about more than just the love of Sigurbjörg and Páll. What other type of love is in the story?
  13. In “Shlandy” does Miskew really want Mary’s wedding to be for her? If not, who does he want it to be for?
  14. Have you ever heard of a skuggabaldur? Do you know of any other mystical animals in which people believe?
  15. What is unique about the settings of these stories? Do these settings make the stories more interesting?
  16. When the stories are looked at all together, can you see overall themes emerging?
  17. How does the author want us to feel about the characters?
  18. These stories are about immigrants to Manitoba in the 1800s. Is there anything about their experience that is similar to the experience of immigrants today?
  19. From the stories can you tell what challenges faced the immigrants?
  20. The author criticizes or implies criticism of some people in the stories. How does he do this and what is it that he is criticizing?
  21. Why does Halldor shoot the wolf? What does it reveal about him as a person?
  22. What do you think happened to Ingrid? Does it make you feel happy or sad?
  23. In folklore it can be very dangerous to wish for things. Are there any cases of wishing that has serious results in the stories?
  24. The huldafolk are just like us, except they’re invisible. Plus they’re smarter, more beautiful, handsomer, have beautiful homes in cliffs and rocks, nice clothes, good food and have great parties. If you lived in a place where everyone was poor, do you think you might believe in people who had all the things you’d like? Can you think of any instances today of people admiring, even worshipping, people who they think have more money, better, more exciting lives?

I Still Don't Even Know You

• Book Club Questions:
  1. Is the title, "I Still Don't Even Know You" appropriate to this collection. If so, why?
  2. The mother's fear in "The Good Little Girl" is that her daughter, Missy, will turn out to be just like her. Do you think Missy will be like her mother? If so, what does she do to show that this will happen? And is this, after all, a bad thing?
  3. In "Dogs" the main character is a writer. She mentions that if she could just name the dog in the story she is writing then everything that is going on around her, and everything in her story, will turn out all right. However, the woman herself is never named in the main story. Neither is her husband. Is this important to the story? If so, why?
  4. In "The Cat" Nigel meets a young girl in the hospital emergency room. What do you think has happened to her? Why is it significant that Nigel meets her?
  5. The story, "Making Spirits Bright" has a very unusual structure. Can you discuss the structure and explain why it is unusual?
  6. "Henderson Has Scored for Canada" is based on the 1972 hockey games between Canada and Russia. How do the games mirror what is happening in Maggie's home life? Is Maggie's misinterpretation of what is happening around her believable?
  7. In "Drowning" Laura and Doug come to a stand still. What do you think would happen if the story continued on?
  8. What is Julie trying to tell Steve in the story, "Convenience"? Does he understand what she is saying to him?
  9. In "Every Summer, in Every Watery Town all over the World, There is at Least One Drowning," Marianne tries to keep her two worlds separate. What happens when the two worlds collide and why is this appropriate for the story? Is the ending depressing or do you, as reader, actually feel relief?
  10. In "Be Kind to Your Children" the little kids on the beach see the patients as "a bunch of lousy angels." What does this signify to the reader? What does it signify to Meg? Does it change Meg's opinion of her work and life?
  11. Is there any discernible reason for the ordering of the stories in this collection? Are there linked themes? If so, what are they?
  12. What is your favourite story and why?
  13. What is your least favourite story and why?
  14. Even though the characters all feel that they don't really know each other -- no matter how hard they try -- do you feel this is true of them? In real life does anyone ever really know anyone else?

Meteor Storm

Fatted Calf Blues

reckoning

Vain Thing, A

Penance Drummer, The

Beautiful Girl Thumb

This Side of Bonkers

Limbo

Destiny's Telescope

Core Samples

Late Night Caller, The