Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life: Existential Crisis

Posted by DogEared in DogEared on September 22, 2010
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BOOK NAME: Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
AUTHOR: Wendy Mass

Welcome to the book club meeting! This week, we are continuing to read Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. Have you read through chapter 15? Let’s get going!

If you have read through chapter 15, click “See More” to get to the discussion.

If you haven’t read that far yet, stop here!

Last chance! Spoilers ahead!

Crocks04: We hope you enjoyed the book! Be sure to come to next week’s meeting so we can talk about the ending! (Lucky you, getting a head start on thinking about it!)

2whitie and zoenightshade12: We think you’re right. It’s always been just Jeremy and Lizzy. Jeremy probably is a little sad that Lizzy is making a new friend.

In these chapters, Jeremy and Lizzy deliver a Tiffany lamp to Mr. Rudolph. He ends up giving it to Lizzy because he isn’t attached to things the way he was when he was young. Mr. Rudolph’s philosophy on life’s meaning confuses Jeremy, and he has what’s known as an “existential crisis.” (Check the definitions below if you don’t know what that means). Lizzy drags Jeremy over to Samantha and Rick’s apartment, where they try to contact Jeremy’s dad by holding a séance. When nothing happens, Rick teaches Jeremy how to turn invisible.

Crisis or not, Jeremy and Lizzy deliver a telescope to Dr. Grady at the Museum of Natural History. Dr. Grady teaches them about the origins of the universe. Lizzy’s not a fan of the science stuff, but Jeremy loves it.

They still are no closer to finding the keys, until Jeremy has a great idea–they’ll go to Atlantic City and look for the fortune teller that told Jeremy’s father’s fortune when he was 13. Lucky for them, Jeremy’s mom and Aunt Judi have to go to Atlantic City for an art exhibit. Jeremy and Lizzy find the fortune teller’s stall, and even though it’s not the same woman that was there when Jeremy’s dad was 13, they talk to her.

Jeremy REALLY loves candy–more than anyone we’ve read about before! Do you have a favorite type of candy?

Mr. Oswald calls Lizzy a “spitfire.” What do you think he means by that?

Do you think it’s possible to turn invisible the way Rick describes?

Dr. Grady says “It’s the journey, not the destination.” What do you think this saying means?

Everyone Jeremy and Lizzy meet seems to have a different idea about the meaning of life. What do think the meaning of life is?

Here
are some
words you might not have seen before. (All definitions
from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.)

Existential: Of, relating to, or affirming existence. (An existential crisis is when you are questioning the meaning of life. -DogEared)

Séance: A spiritualist meeting to receive spirit communications.

Tangible: Capable of being perceived, especially by the sense of touch.

This week we’ll finish reading Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. The palm reader said that Jeremy had already been very near the keys… we wonder where they might be!

We need to figure out which book to read next! Maybe something spooky, since Halloween is in October. What do you think? Leave a comment with your suggestions for next month’s book!

-DogEared

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Categories: DogEared

Comments

  1. 2whitie
    September 22, 2010, 10:04 pm

    Grrrr…I still remember what mr whatshisface’s shirt. I, however, out of them all liked Mabel billinglysly best. By the way, I have issues with spelling. I think a good book would be Found, by haddix. It was sorts scary, but someone else read it, and they gave ne that “scardy cat” look. Sigh. There was scary mt dew part

  2. Crocks04
    September 23, 2010, 9:54 am

    My favorite candy has to be.. Jellybeans! They’re is tons of flavors so it never gets old.

    He’s telling her she gets angry really quick?

    And I think it is impossible to turn invisible, because.. well no one’s ever done it :)

    The journey is the trip. The reason the destination is what it is.

    ~Crocks04

  3. myralynn32
    September 23, 2010, 4:00 pm

    i think this book is very interresting.I love it so much

  4. zoenightshade12
    September 23, 2010, 4:14 pm

    My fave candy is CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    sometimesifieat2muchigethyperandsumbudypleasecontrolme…I”MONSUGARHIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    oh. um, sorry about that. but i just luv chocolate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I:)

    ~zoe

  5. 2whitie
    September 23, 2010, 11:17 pm

    I love jellybellies and sourballs. Soooooo good. The sunkist jellybeans are the best. Another book we could read could be October Sky, origianally published as rocket boys, by homer hickam. We are reading it in my LA class, and it rocks. :)

  6. Anonymous
    September 24, 2010, 1:43 pm

    My cady is well… GUM!!! I like to chew on stuff so GUM helps me stop!

  7. madison
    September 26, 2010, 1:19 pm

    I herd this book thats the book of the month!!!

  8. scubachick(:
    September 27, 2010, 8:18 pm

    My favorite candy is… (DRUM ROLL PLEASEEEE) Peanut M&M’s! :) Yummy! And to the person who likes gum… what kind of things do you chew on? Lol… :)

  9. lisa22
    September 28, 2010, 9:02 pm

    Hi ur book loks very interesting and souds like it to.

  10. abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
    November 14, 2010, 6:55 pm

    never read it!hope it’s in my library!>-.-.-.-.-.->

    ~abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

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