bringing+down+the+house+1

Week 1

A- Hans B- Devin C- Steven D- Steven

C: Hans brought in some Doritos and small Gatorades. They we very delicious and we enjoyed them a lot. We then started to discuss the book. We had a very descriptive conversation. We mainly talked about the characters and compared them to the movie that had recently came out. We then discussed the questions that I had brought in. We answered them with examples form the book. Devin later started to talk about the questions for the discussion director. The characters were very different from the movie. The characters were very smart and they know how to bet the house. Hans and I were discussing about counting cards while Devin made the intro to his section. Devin started to ask his questions and we talk over them and they were some very interesting questions.

D:
 * 1) How does Kevin get “Drafted” into the MIT Blackjack team? When he first plays with Martinez and Fisher.
 * 2) Where does Kevin first learn to count cards? He first learns in Atlantic city then learns background in library.
 * 3) What school does Kevin attend? He attends MIT
 * 4) Why does Kevin do other sports if he wants to go into engineering? HE does other sports because his father wants him to be more flexible.
 * 5) Why do they make Kevin first take all of the money through the Flight to Atlantic City? They had him as an initiation for the new member.

B: Often in the begging of books, the reader must read threw the introduction of characters. Often this is boring and monotonous. However, in this book they introduce the character after you get to know them a little bit. this makes the process more interesting. The Main Characters are as followed:
 * Kevin- Is the protagonist. The story revolves around him.
 * Martinez- A friend of Kevin. He is usually with Fisher, in the early stages of a book it is almost like they share an identity. This changes toward the end of the first fifth of the book.
 * Fisher- Described as strong. Very smart, but maybe not as smart as the others in the club.
 * Mickey- An older man the runs the black jack club. He is described as possibly latino with horrible teeth. The reader must infer most of his personality, otherwise we have not learned all that much about him.

Week 2

A-Devin B-Steven C-Hans D-Hans

B-Is it easy to read? Conversational? "Classic"? Does it use a lot of words you don't understand? What grade level do you think the book is written at, and why?

We thought that the book wasn't to difficult to read but it gets a little dry at some parts. The has a very interesting topic and it is veery simple for others to talk about it. It would make a very good conversation. We also thought that this book would be a classical book if it stood the test of time. I thought that the book wasn't that descriptive but it showed what other people seemed to be like. Devin and Hans though that it was also very easy to read because of the change in time through out the book. We thought that the book should be in the grade level of 7-9 because it is a great story and a curses a little.

C- What was Kevin's test? Kevin's first test was Chinatown. How does Kevin explain to his dad about gambling? He eases into it by asking questions and act as if he doesn't know what it is, instead of being straight forward with it. Describe Kevin's first experience at the Las Vegas casinos? He's kind of excited to be there but then he knows that he is there to work. Explain how Kevin's "teammates" help him out in the casinos? They help him out a lot with the hand signals and with the count as soon as he gets into the game. How does Kevin feel about his dad not knowing about his gambling? He talks to him about it but his dad still techniqually doesn't know.

D- This week's book club was very successful. Devin brought in Chocolate Pop ems, Capri Suns, as well as some Dora and Spongebob candies. Due to the shortened period, we had to start discussion early while we ate our food. Steven, the discussion director, asked us some questions about the book itself. We had a pretty good conversation about it. After that, we took a little break and kept eating the Pop ems. Toward the end of the period, I had to form my questions while Devin and Steven were eating and talking. We really had a good discussion about them and can't wait to read the next fifth of the book. I think it was a really good idea to pick a book that was made into a movie because it gave us so much more to talk about and we could compare and contrast the two.

Week 3

A- Steven B- Hans C-Devin D- Devin

C- Questions 1. Did you think that when you first read about Sunjay Das, he would be important? We did not think he was important at first, but later realized he was. 2. Do you believe that Kevin will get busted as soon as Micky said they Might? Was this a part of Foreshadowing? We thoght that he would happen, we Know somthing really bad is going to happen. 3. How suspicious do you think Mohegan Sun is getting with the both teams have field days there? Not that suspencious at the time, but after they did they begin to understand. 4. Would you have left your day job or keep it? Would have kept it for backup. 5. Why do you think Kevin does not want Black Jack to be his only ''Job". More back up for if he gets caught and looks suspicious if he does nothing on the weekdays. Also cover up to tell his parents.

B- Discuss the mood or tone of your book.What is the overriding emotion of this book? What examples back up your claim? It is kind of like anxiety because of the main characters being under pressure when at the table. It was also very happy because when they received so much money and had a lot of fun nights. The overriding emotion is pressure and suspense. Like when they first go through the airport and Kevin has to hold a lot of the money for the group.

D- In the beginning we ate Steve's bagels like there was no tomorrow. They were really good. We chugged down his grape gatorade as well. We then waited five minutes to finish up our food and then got to work. We talked about the theme of the book and agreed that it was mainly suspenseful. Hans wrote that down on the page and then I began to write my questions and then we began to answer them. The questions started a good conversation. We realized after every one gave there opinion, why Kevin makes some hard choices. They may be for cover up on his second life or maybe to show his parents he is working hard. We all had a different opinion on why he chose it. This was one of the better discussion we have had so far in this book club. We look forward to having the next one over the break.

Week 4

A-Hans B- Devin C- Steve D- Steve

C- 1. Why are they caught at all of the Casinos? They are making a lot of money and Private Investigators,pit bosses, and managers. 2. What do you think of the Hotel Crashing in to there room? We think that it is a violation of privacy. 3. How do they get caught if they are staying in a different Hotel? All of the Hotel communicate with each other because of cheaters. 4. How come they haven't found out about the Spotters from the team? They don't seem to be vital to anyone because they aren't making any money. 5. How did they get caught with the different disguises from Hollywood? The disguises maybe weren't good enough to fool the place.

B- What are some images used and themes that relate to them.
 * Strippers- they are a buffer and a spiritual aid- they help the team cash some of their chips.
 * Pit bosses- Represent betrayal- they are now turning on the team

D-Friday we had some delicious Doritos brought in by Hans. After we finished eating the chips we started to discuss the questions. We had a very interesting discussion about the casinos and all of the people that thy meet. Then we talk about the discussion topic. We though that Strippers were a image of a buffer between them and the law. Also that Pit-bosses are betrayal among the team. We had a very good discussion on the book. //**Bringing Down the House**// is getting very interesting and intense we all though.

Week 5: A-Devin B-Steven C- Hans D-Hans

B- I would recommend this book to ages 13- 40. We said this because this uses some viral language and is graphic at some parts. This topic has not been discussed before in another books before because they don't take it from the card-counters point of view. It is very interesting view of vegas. I think that this book should be part of the schools curriculum because it teaches a strong lesson about illegal things.

D- What were your thoughts about the ending of the book? Thought it was a little confusing at the ending because they didn't describe who robbed Kevin. How was the team robbed? Because Dylan and Jill didn't keep it safe in the bank like Kevin did. How was Fisher caught? In the Bahamas, he went to the bathroom and some guys went in, caught him and started beating him up. What do you think Kevin learned from this experience? He learned about how brutal the real Las Vegas can be. He also learns about illegal stuff like counting cards. Did you enjoy the ending? We didn't really like how the book ended because it was way to confusing.

C- This last book club went smoothly. At the start of the period, Devin took out his food. We all had chocolate donuts, a juice box and a little bag of nuggets. The food was pretty good and we finished with a little time to spare. Once we took out our laptops, the discussion took place. We started with the discussion director's questions. After that, we discussed the ending of the book and we all had a bit of trouble remembering how Kevin got robbed. I then typed up my 5 questions then we discussed those. Our discussion went very well even though we finished a bit early. **Bringing Down the House** was a very good book.