If you schedule ahead of time, Audrey Schulman will phone in to your book club and answer your questions. Email early to set the time up.
THE DOLPHIN HOUSE has many complex societal issues to discuss, as well as a gripping plot that helps everyone to finish the book in time for the meeting.
Book Club Questions
This story happened in 1965, a very different time. How would it be different if it happened now?
Cora stays at the research center, despite the dangers. Why does she do that? If you had been in her position, what would you have done?
The dolphins’ personalities are so fully realized in this book. How does Schulman accomplish this?
Cora is trying to teach the dolphins how to speak. Communication is a major theme in the book –where it’s successful and where it’s just attempted or wished for. How is communication used in this book?
The humans are supposed to be training the dolphins in this book. How do the dolphins, at times, reverse that dynamic?
What part of the book affected you emotionally the most and why?
How would Blum have reacted differently, when he begins to suspect what is happening between Cora and Junior, if she had been a man or a less attractive woman? How would the press have reacted differently?
Cora considers how people would look differently at her father with the boar and at her with Junior. Do you agree with her thoughts and why?
If Cora had had a college degree, how would that have affected the dynamics between her and the men of the facility? What would have changed?
Do you think that Cora found a way to be at peace with what happened? How do you interpret the end of the book?
The book portrays men in the 1960s as treating women very badly. Do you think this is a realistic portrayal? Over your lifetime, have you seen any change in the way men treat women?
Reviews of Schulman's Past Novels by BookBrowse (an internet book-club review site):
How Did I Miss This Author?!
I don't think I have enough room to say all the good things I want to about this novel! The details and descriptions are not lavish and long-winded - they are tight and controlled, rich with power and insight, every sense is utilized.
Best Book I've Read All Year.
Beautiful descriptions of Africa and rich, well-developed characters. This is a book to buy, not just borrow from the library.
Spellbinding!!!
I absolutely love this book... I feel as though I have been to Africa and I didn't want the book to end!!!!
Lots for Book Clubs to Discuss...
Book clubs could have a number of topics to discuss, such as the impact of "progress" on the environment, countries in Africa's past and current political unrest, genocide, pharmaceutical companies and their priorities, homosexuality, animal rights, to name a few.
A Lasting Impression.
It's not often to find a book that makes this deep of an impression after the last page is read. This is a book to savor, one that is difficult to put down. The writing in this book is perfectly balanced- descriptive without being overdone, richly paced without being incoherent or predictable. The characters are the kind of characters that stay with you long after the book is closed.
Thorough and genuine.
The author has maintained respect for both storytelling and fact building. You learn through vicarious experience of vibrant characters through a story as strong as the data used to create it.
A good compelling read.
A very realistic and complete sense of place, two very intriguing narratives that compel continued reading....a powerful read that breaks away from the mainstream zone... This book would be a good book-club read because of the underlying issues on progress and its effects on indigenous populations and the environment as well as the challenges that sooner or later everyone must face in their lives.
A Book to Savor
Read it slowly because the words transform themselves into poetic images of Africa.... It is a beautiful, beautiful book - one that your finish and immediately want to read again.
Read this book.
The author did a great job getting inside that character's head and helped us to understand the point of view of an Aspie. ...It is a compelling story of 2 people overcoming moral dilemmas, both from different perspectives..
Couldn't Put It Down.
My husband, who doesn't often read fiction, read it too and has high praise for it. I learned about so many diverse things and, in the process, was royally entertained. ...You are THERE when you read this. ...To tie so much information into a fascinating story is really the gift.
Blog Reviews of Schulman's Past Novels:
Naturally, comparisons are going to be made between this book and Ann Patchett’s "State of Wonder." I can state without equivocation that I greatly preferred "Three Weeks in December."
Few books are as simultaneously edifying and gratifying... Hollywood movies might have similar cinematography, but Three Weeks in December has everything.
Three Weeks in December is one of those rare novels that excites, educates, and elucidates without preaching or belaboring. It wasn’t until I put the novel down that I realized how much I’d learned about Africa, gorillas, Asperger’s, lions, colonialism, and unforeseen consequences.
This is a moving story, told with great sympathy for the empirical facts, which doesn’t stop us as readers from getting our guts kicked out by Audrey Schulman’s great voice.
I thoroughly enjoyed Three Weeks in December, with its exotic setting, complex characters, and in-depth relationship with the native animals and African environment. For me it was one easy-to-read story where I lost myself, my favorite type of book to read.... I completely loved her writing style.
...Flawlessly organized and executed and is a thrilling book to read.... well crafted novel which will keep many readers reading into the early morning hours.
Gorgeously written and evocative, "Three Weeks in December" is a feast for the senses. If you like literary adventure, this is definitely one for your shelves.
This book blew me away. The research effort must have been enormous. There is so much insight and information included... it worked amazingly well and held my attention.
This book is unforgettable... such an amazing book, simple and complex at the same time...consistently rich in detail and gorgeously written.... incredibly well-researched, the kind of book that will make you feel smarter and more engaged with the world. I plan to check out Schulman's previous novels to see what other gems I've missed so far.
This is a beautifully written story that drew me in from the very beginning and held my attention to the very end.
Schulman’s writing is lyrical and captivating, her dialogue is strong, and her storytelling skills are superb. I’ve added the rest of her books to my to-read list and I recommend this one heartily.
The two main characters are complex and intriguing, and their alternating points of view are equally compelling. The descriptions are... tight and controlled, yet rich with power and insight, and every sense is utilized... My husband ...finished Three Weeks in December and said he believed that was the best book he'd read all last year.