BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
1) Most of the characters in this story are chasing fame. Some of their pursuits are boundless, some are simple. But celebrity can have its downside. Private lives of the famous are in many ways lived out in public and subject to outsized
scrutiny. BunnyLee feels blindsided by fame, yet she pursues fame for her dog. Name the pursuits of each character and discuss how the pursuit of fame affects their lives.
2) The burden of fame can be heavy. Share with others what kind of fame you might strive for. What consequences would you face if you reached that goal or fell short of your pursuit? When is fame worth it and when is it not?
3). To the casual observer, Buck seems to have lived a charmed life. But in his own estimation, he does not measure up to BunnyLee. Is Buck worthy of BunnyLee? Do you think that Buck and BunnyLee will end up together? Marrying a
famous person on the surface seems like a plus. But judging by the number of Hollywood marriages that end up in divorce, maybe not. How does fame disrupt a relationship?
4). Philosophers have for centuries debated the concepts of free will versus determinism. Many people feel that a person has at least some control over their destiny, whereas others feel like their destinies are predetermined. Is it in your power to succeed in life? Is it your fault if you fail? Or is your life path pre-determined by the universe? Personal freedom is the cornerstone of democracy, whereas God’s will (“everything happens for a reason’) is the touchstone of most religions. How do these seemingly conflicting views coexist?
5). A priest in Cambodia measured BunnyLee’s chakra and declared her “five times lucky.” In Chinese culture “Five Good Fortunes” or “Five Blessings” refer to longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and the desire to die a natural death in old age. How does the Eastern concept of luck coincide with the philosophical debate between free will and determinism?
6). There are three central characters in the novel—Buck, BunnyLee and Austin. In their orbit Frankie, Kayla, Tammy, and Jimmy Chan inhabit secondary storylines. How do the dreams of these secondary characters depend upon the
success of the primary characters?
7). “Go west, young man,” was the catchphrase of the great migration westward which began 200 years ago. Five Times Lucky is full of imagery of the American West, a time that is glorified by rugged individualism. List the Western genre themes used in the story. List brands and iconic images mentioned in the book that are synonymous with the American West.
8) What seemed like a wild and untamed wilderness to settlers moving west was in fact a migration into the homeland of millions of indigenous peoples. How are the politics of today influenced by the mythology of rugged individualism and the American cowboy? How does that mythology contribute to (or conflict with) current American ideals?
9) Wrestling as entertainment has been an American attraction for centuries. The wrestling circuit thrived throughout small town America alongside vaudeville and the circus. With the advent of television, the spectacle went national. It
wasn’t until the 1990s that wrestling promoters were forced to admit that the outcomes of these events were staged. Even then, many of the fans were slow to catch on. Why is it that some people adamantly believe in the veracity of
something that is clearly fiction to others? How does this willingness to believe in “fake news” or “alternate truth” contribute to the political divisions we experience today?
10). Bullfighting is the earliest depicted sporting event. Bulls were drawn on the walls of caves thousands of years before written language and have appeared as gods in religions around the globe. One of the oldest surviving bronze sculptures depicts a Minoan man leaping over horns of a charging bull. Bullfighting, bull-riding, and bull-running are sporting events that survive to this day. Sports bars have mechanical bulls to ride. What is it about the iconic bull that has fascinated and haunted humankind since the beginning of recorded time? What does the bull mean to you? A bullfight is a spectacle. Why is it that so many people go out of their way to witness the event? What compels a person to take on a bull? And why are the bullfighter and the bull rider held in such high esteem? How is this linked to chasing fame?