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62 pages 2 hours read

Jim DeFede

The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2002

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Book Club Questions

The Day the World Came to Town

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

  • DeFede introduces numerous characters whose lives intersected in Gander. Which personal story made the strongest impression on you, and why?
  • What surprised you most about how the people of Gander responded to this unprecedented situation?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

  • Have you ever experienced extraordinary kindness from strangers during a difficult time? How did that experience compare to the hospitality described in this book?
  • Werner Baldessarini’s priorities shifted dramatically during his time in Gander. Have your own priorities ever transformed similarly due to unexpected circumstances?
  • The book describes many instances of people forming deep bonds in a short time. What enables such rapid connections during crisis situations, in your opinion?
  • How has this book influenced your thoughts about the capacity of communities to respond to emergencies?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

  • How does the response of Gander’s residents comment on rural community dynamics? What relevance might this have for contemporary society, particularly with regard to the urban versus rural divide?
  • The book highlights how people from diverse backgrounds found common ground in Gander. What insights does this offer about bridging cultural differences?
  • Consider how technology and communication have evolved since 2001. How might social media and smartphones change the experiences of stranded passengers today?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

  • The author weaves together multiple narrative threads. How does this technique enhance your understanding of the overall experience in Gander?
  • Consider the significance of Gander’s history as “[t]he lifeboat of the North Atlantic” (30). How does this context enrich the story’s meaning?
  • How does the author’s portrayal of Oz Fudge illuminate larger themes of community service and human connection?
  • DeFede frequently shifts between individual stories and the broader community response. How does this narrative technique affect the pacing and emotional impact of the book?
  • Consider how DeFede handles time in the narrative: the immediate days after 9/11, flashbacks to earlier events, and flash-forwards to years later. How does this temporal structure contribute to the book's themes and meaning?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

  • If you were creating a documentary about the events in Gander, which three stories from the book would you feature prominently, and why?
  • Design a memorial to commemorate what happened in Gander. What elements would you include to capture both the gravity of the situation and the spirit of the community’s response?
  • Imagine you are a journalist interviewing the residents of Gander today. What questions would you ask regarding the lasting impact of these events on their community?

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