The Silver Gun
Page 35
Thank you to James Romaine, for the fantastic lecture on Vincent van Gogh. I obviously never forgot the way you pointed out how the church in the middle of The Starry Night visually grounds the work. Ever since that lecture (years ago!) I have had a special place in my heart for Vincent.
Thank you to Kevin Fitzpatrick, whose NYC tours and books have helped me immensely, not to mention introducing me to Club Wits End, a place that is almost as good as going back in time.
Thank you to my agent, Jill Grosjean, who was the first literary professional to believe in me and Lane. I’ve so appreciated your insight, your editing, your fortitude, and of course, our shared love of animals and Amelia Peabody.
Thank you so much to Esi Sogah at Kensington. Your spirit and energy are contagious, and your professional guidance has been invaluable. Many thanks to Morgan, whose ideas are fabulous, and the art team who have incredible talent in helping Lane and her stories come to life visually. Thanks to the production editor, Paula Reedy, for making decisions that made the story its best. And to my copy editor, who fact-checks like a rock star and undangles my participles, Linda Seed.
Lastly, my heartfelt thanks to you, wonderful Reader. Your imagination and love of reading is the most important part of a good book. It is my dearest hope that my books will somehow increase your delight in life.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abbott, Berenice, and Elizabeth McCausland. New York in the Thirties. New York: Dover Publications, 1939.
Brodsky, Alyn. The Great Mayor. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2003.
Ferloni, Julia, Sophie and Mikael. Vincent van Gogh. New York: Konecky & Konecky, 1994.
Footner, Hulbert. New York: City of Cities. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1937.
Jackson, Kenneth T. The Encyclopedia of New York City. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1995.
Jeffers, H. Paul. The Napoleon of New York: Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2002.
Jennings, Peter, and Todd Brewster. The Century. New York: Doubleday, 1998.
Lowe, David Garrard. Art Deco New York. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, a Division of VNU Business Media, Inc., 2004
Powell, Elfreda. The Letters of Vincent van Gogh. London: Constable & Robinson Ltd., 2003.
Stolley, Richard B. LIFE: Our Century in Pictures. Boston, New York, London: Bulfinch Press, 1999.
Tauranac, John. The Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark. New York: Scribner, 1995.
Wallace, Robert. The World of Van Gogh. New York: Time-Life Books, 1969.
A READING GROUP GUIDE
THE SILVER GUN
L. A. Chandlar
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
The suggested questions are included
to enhance your group’s reading of
L. A. Chandlar’s The Silver Gun.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. When you think of the 1930s in America, what comes to mind? Did the representations of the ’30s surprise you? Why or why not?
2. Just like art, stories speak differently to different people. Discuss the overarching themes of the book. For you, what was the main theme?
3. When you think back to the book, what scenes keep coming to mind? What has been the most memorable thing about the book?
4. Who do you think the hooded figure is in the Intro? (Hint: We will find out who it is in the next book, but it is someone who has already been introduced in The Silver Gun.)
5. Did you read the quotes at the beginning of the chapters? Why or why not? Why do you think art is a theme in this seres? (My answer: I confess I sometimes don’t read the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters. It’s like I can’t wait to get to the story. For this series, though, I wanted those quotes because I wanted to underscore the idea that art was a serious theme in society at the time. And even today, art has a capacity to “open the shutters of our heart,” as a friend of mine likes to say. I think we can see things through art that we cannot see otherwise.)
6. If you did read the ML quotes at the beginning of chapters, did you see how they connected to the chapter theme? Were there any that stood out to you? If so, why?
7. How do you think van Gogh’s search for acceptance mirrors Lane’s (and Finn’s) desire for home? What might Lane find when she ventures to her childhood home in Rochester, Michigan?
8. Just like the art and vitality of the 1930s being overshadowed by gangster stories and the Great Depression, van Gogh’s reputation is a mixed bag. His genius is loved and understood these days, but sometimes the fact that he cut off his ear overrides everything else. Did you know some of this history of van Gogh? What was new to you? Did you recognize any of his sayings before it was revealed just who ML was?
9. In Stephen King’s book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, he has a quote that says, “Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.” Do you agree that art is a support system to life? Why or why not?
10. The epilogue gives a clue to Tucker’s role in the next book. What do you think he’ll do and what is his main objective?
Photo: Britt Dyer Photography
L.A. Chandlar is an author and motivational speaker on the Fight to Keep Creativity Alive, demystifying creativity in the workplace and personally. She lives in New York City with her family. Visit her at www.lachandlar.com.