Host An Unforgettable Book Club Party

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean A lonely young American soldier comes upon a litter of pups on a WWI battlefield in France.  The dogs are rescued and the young soldier chooses two of the pups for himself.  He names them after two popular French dolls considered lucky talismans, Rin Tin Tin and Nanette.  Little does Lee Duncan know just how truly special his find really is.

Book Club Ideas

Decorations

Host a dog theme book club party for Rin Tin Tin.

Make your own cute dog tag wine charms.  I used a jpeg template of a dog bone (click here for the template).  Open the template in a photo editing program and add names and change the color to create an individual dog tag for each guest.   Print out and then laminated each tag (I used clear heavy packing tape to laminate), poke a hole in each tag and attach to the wine glasses with thin wire.

There are quite a few decorations available at Amazon.com for your dog theme party, including plates, cups and napkins, balloons, cake toppers and more.   Serve your snacks in cute dog bowls.

Rin Tin Tin was a movie star and later a TV star. Decorate with some of Rin Tin Tin’s movie posters.

Buy This Allposters.com

Buy This Allposters.com

Buy This Allposters.com

Book Club Menu

Here are some fun ideas for dog theme party food.

Doggie Dip with Bone Chips

Weenie Dogs Wrapped in a Blanket

German Shepherd Pie

Puppy Chow

Meringue Dog Bones

Book Club Resources

Ratings at the time this post was published

Discussion

Here are a few points to get your discussion going.

1. Before beginning the discussion, have everyone first give their general impressions of the novel in a single sentence.
2. What part of Rin Tin Tin: The Life and The Legend moved you most?
3. Were you surprised by the attitudes toward dogs at the turn of the nineteenth century?  Discuss how Rin Tin Tin and the other early movie canine stars helped change the roles that animals play in our society.
4. How do you feel about the use of dogs on the battlefield?  What are the pros and cons?
5. Why do you think Rin Tin Tin’s legacy has endured?
6. Lee Duncan was devoted to his dogs at the sacrifice of all other relationships in his life.  What do you think drove Lee’s devotion?
7. Compare and contrast the devotion of Bert and Daphne to the Rin Tin Tin legacy.

Purchase Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend at your favorite bookseller

The Author

Susan Orlean was raised in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from the University of Michigan.  She has been a staff writer for the New Yorker since 1999.  She is married, has one son and an adorable dog named Cooper.  For more on Susan and a peek at Cooper, please visit her official website.

October 2011 Indie Next List

Other Works by Susan Orlean

Personal Insights, Favorite Quotes, etc…

Susan Orlean will be discussing Rin Tin Tin: The Life and The Legend at the Texas Book Festival 2011 on October 22nd.  I expect she will be attracting a big crowd.  I hope I will be able squeeze in!

I had a beautiful collie as a child named Lassie.  I was surprised to learn in Rin Tin Tin that the “real” Lassie was a he!

If you are looking for a new companion, October is the American Humane Association‘s Adopt-A-Dog Month.

Rin Tin Tin and Nanette (named after the French WWI good luck dolls) came home with Lee Duncan following the war.

Lee Duncan with puppy Rin Tin Tin on his lap.  Nanette is pictured at the far left.

For more information and pictures of Rin Tin Tin, please visit Rinty’s website.