Book Club Questions Elementary, My Dear Watkins 1. Jo Tulip prides herself on being independent and self sufficient—though sometimes she takes those qualities too far. What problems can be created when a person is too independent? Too dependent? By the end of the story, do you think she has found the right balance? 2. Was Danny wrong to go to Europe when he did? Why or why not? Have you ever taken advantage of a career opportunity that required enormous sacrifice? How did it work out for you? Was it worth the price you paid? Did your decision negatively impact others around you? 3. Jo's grandmother, Eleanor Bosworth, has always been a very remote and unloving woman. Why do you think Alexa is able to penetrate her hard heart in a way that no one else ever has? If you were Jo, would you feel jealous of their relationship or excited about the "crack in the armor", so to speak? 4. Despite her young age, Alexa has been through an enormous amount of turmoil and change in her life. How do you think she will handle living a normal life after the story is done, considering that she's never experienced "normal" before? In what way could God use her past problems to help her grow spiritually and emotionally in the future? 5. Alexa is shocked to learn that the Finch twins are not intelligent or gifted. Why do you think she is so surprised? Why do you think it's important for her to learn that the Fibrin-X didn't create her own intelligence but merely cleared the way for what was already there? 6. In this story, both Bradford and Luc are tempted to act in unethical ways for money. Do you think most people can be "bought" if the price goes high enough? What in each man's character made him accept or resist the offer? 7. What do you think of Jo's relationship with her parents? Would you have handled things differently if you were her? What will their relationship look like in the future? 8. How much responsibility do you think pharmaceutical companies should have in developing drugs for orphan diseases? Should they be forced to spend time and money researching medications that won't reap large profits in return? If you were in a position of power or influence, for example in passing laws or creating tax codes, what would you do to encourage drug companies to research cures for lesser-known diseases? 9. Mr. Bashiri claims that the wealthy doctors who work with GMM are happier and more at peace in Africa than they are at home in Switzerland. How can affluence get in the way of one's relationship with God? 10. Mr. Bashiri uses his photography to communicate spiritual truths without words. Did his explanation of how he does this make sense to you? How could you use your profession to communicate spiritual truths as well? 11. As you read this book, did you pick up any useful household hints? What did you think of the final resolution regarding Jo's column (and its new "sister" column)? 12. In what ways are Jo and Danny perfect for each other? If you could talk to Jo and Danny about their future together, what advice would you give them? 13. Did you read the entire Smart Chick Mystery series? If so, were you pleased with the romantic story line that carried through all three books? Did you think that Jo's emotional development was realistic? In what ways did Danny also grow and change through these stories? 14. Did you find the Smart Chick Mystery books humorous? Many writers, including the author of this series, claim that it's harder to write a funny story than a serious one. Why do you think that's so? What are your favorite humorous novels, and what is it (characters, dialogue, plot, etc.) about your favorite novels that makes them so funny? 15. Would you like to see more books in this series or do you feel "complete" now that it's finished?