Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:
• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)
Also consider these LitLovers talking points to help get a discussion started for Life Expectancy:
1. First, start with your experience reading the book: did you find it a suspense-filled page-turner? Did the novel engage you...or not particularly? Were you able to accept Koontz's use of fantasy (Josef's predictions) as the basis for this story? Or was it unnacceptable for you?
2. Do you find Jimmy Tock convincing as a narrator? Do you like his "voice"—his warmth and humor? How does he present himself to the reader; how does he react to the dangers that he faces—with tinges of self-pity, acceptance, fortitude...or what? How would you react to such a prophecy in his place?
3. What about Lorrie? Do you find her convincing as a character? Some have found her glibness unrealistic and inappropriate, even irritating. Others feel her humor reflects her inner strength. What do you think?
4. Speaking of humor: overall, did you enjoy the narrator's sarcasm, witticisms, and attempts at quirky humor? Or did you find them overworked and tiresome? What reason might Koontz have had for using humor in this work?
5. What about the residents of Snow Village? Are they well drawn? Are there any you particularly enjoy?
6. Then, of course, there are the villains. What do you make of them? They appear rather stupid, but continually evade capture. Are they realistic...or isn't that the point? What are the motives? Why do you think Koontz made them circus performers...clowns v. aerialists? What might Koontz be getting at...or getting at nothing at all, just having fun!
7. Jimmy knows what lies ahead—not precisely what will happen, but that something dire will happen. He even knows the specific dates—which brings up interesting questions: one, can fate (if, indeed, there such a thing) be avoided; two, is it better to know what lies ahead, even if bad, or is it better for life to unfold in unexpected ways? If given a choice, which would you choose?
8. As he narrates the story, Jimmy relates a number of rather minor details. Some of those details end up playing a larger than expected role in the story. Try to recall some of the details, and talk about the way in which Koontz, as author, cleverly passes them off as insignificant.
9. Talk about the significance of the titles for Parts 4, 5, and 6: "All I Ever Wanted Was Immortality," "Just Like Pontius Pilot...," and "I Am Moonlight...." Also, discuss the title of the novel itself—and it's double meaning.
10. Talk about a moral conundrum! What do you make of Jimmy's agreement to become an assassin in order to save his child? What would you do?
11. Were you surprised by the ending? Is it satisfying? Do the events unfold naturally, or did you feel manipulated? What does Jimmy come to learn about who he is? How do those webbed digits come into play?
12. If you've read other books by Dean Koontz, how does this one compare? How do you rank it in his body of work?
(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online or off, with attribution. Thanks.)
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