Books
Reader's Guide for The Taker
[Note: there are spoilers below]
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Love:
How healthy is Lanny's love for Jonathan? Is it love or need? Or obsession?
Both Lanny and Adair cannot bear to be alone and draw others to them. For Lanny, she craves to be with one person in a love relationship, while Adair prefers to be surrounded by a group that he professes to love as a family and, at the same time, exploits. What drives this need in each character? Is it a fear of loneliness? Or because they fear themselves unworthy of love?
Jonathan is perceived as aloof because he exhibits no need for love. Peopleparticularly womenare drawn to him because of his beauty, wealth and charm. Still, he's also been resented by the men in St. Andrews for these same reasons. Did this resentment shape his aloofness, or his tendency to engage in fleeting conquests of women?
Did Jonathan love Sophia? Did Sophia's plight manage to pierce Jonathan's bubble of isolation, and make him aware of the tribulations of others? Do you feel Jonathan was upset by her suicide, or secretly relieved to be excused from dealing with this complication in his life, or was this relief Lanny's interpretation of Jonathan's reaction?
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Which of the charactersLanny, Adair, Lukewas the truest lover? Can Jonathan's request for Lanny to end his life, because he felt he couldn't go on after losing his wife, be seen as a measure of true love, or is it another example of his self-absorption?
Does love make the characters weaker or stronger? Is Adair's love for Lanny his undoing?
Science, Religion or Magic:
The question of how immortality is granted, or achieved, is never settled in the book, and the characters struggle to decide whether it comes from god, is a matter of scientific discovery, or belongs to the realm of magic. How might religion, science and magic all be different approaches to the same result? How are some scientific achievements like magic (unexplainable to the layman)? How is our acceptance of some scientific achievements like blind faith? How is blind faith like the acceptance of magic? Is alchemy, as referred to in the story, science or magic? Is Adair a scientist seeking the truth or a magician seeking greater power over the unknown world?
Does Adair behave like a seeker of truth?
How might powers, such as those Adair has achieved, change a person's outlook on life? How would it change the way he relates to those with less knowledge or power? Does he believe himself a god? Do his minions? Could he be considered a god? Does he have an obligation to be humble?
Character and Integrity:
Is Lanny ruthless? She bullies Sophia in order to destroy her relationship with Jonathan and walls Adair in a prison, although she didn't anticipate that the outcome would be as dire as it turns out to be in either case. Were her actions overly harsh or was she justified? Can she be judged the monster that she fears herself to be?
Lanny was raised in a time when women were not valued except as a complement to a man. Daughters were not generally valued as much as sons. Do you see her choices as a means of taking control of her life? Is Magda an example of an independent woman?
What do you think of Jonathan's response to his obligation to the town? Does he truly accept his father's obligation to keep the town functioning, or does he use his changed circumstances as an excuse to flee from them? How successfully do the main characters struggle with their obligations and duties, or do they succumb to personal wants and desires? Which ones are self-indulgent and which are selfless?
To which character is Lanny best suited as a partner or soul mate: Jonathan, Adair or Luke? Which is the best influence on her? The worst?
Does Adair struggle with his egocentric tendencies? Does he display kindness towards his minions, or mere tolerance? How would you deal with his explosive temper? Have you ever known someone with a similarly explosive personality? Would it be worth dealing with such a volatile personality in exchange for eternal life?
Adair chooses for his minions individuals with deep flaws and most of them have chosen self-interest over the welfare of others. Why would Adair seek this characteristic in others? What would he do with someone who was willing to sacrifice himself for someone else?
If we perceive Adair and his minions to be unworthy of immortality, does it seem unjust that Adair is given control over this gift? Does it make you question your belief in the fundamental fairness or unfairness of life? Have Adair and his minions been warped by the experience of being made exceptional? How do you think most people would react? Is this gift unlike Jonathan's good fortune at being born handsome and rich? Is it natural for us to respond with jealousy or suspicion, as Nevin does to Jonathan?
Why does Luke leave his home to follow Lanny? What would you do if someone introduced you to a hidden universe? Would you follow them to learn more, even if it meant abandoning the life you have now? Is Luke's willingness to follow Lanny a sign of his strength of character or a sign of a defective character? Is he seeking the truth and ready to undertake a life-changing adventure or is he running away from an unhappy situation?
