Are you part of a book club or looking to start one? Denison Avenue by Daniel Innes and Christina Wong makes a great book club pick!
A story told in two parts as a graphic novel and novella, about elderly Wong Cho Sum’s attempt to cope with the death of her husband by taking up bottle and can collecting. Denison Avenue explores the price of progress in cities like Toronto and those it leaves behind.
Book Club Questions
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In Denison Avenue, Cho Sum begins collecting recyclables to earn some money, but also to distract herself from the loss of her husband. Are you familiar with the people who collect cans and bottles? Does the character of Cho Sum inspire you to see them in a different way?
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The city of Toronto and its gentrification are an important part of Denison Avenue. In the city where you live, what do you think is a complex issue that could also inspire a book?
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What do you think of the poetic way Christina Wong's text is written? Does it remind you of the cadence and tones of Chinese dialects? Does it visually lead you into the story differently than regular prose might?
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Do you find yourself studying the artwork by Daniel Innes closely, looking at every detail? What details have stuck with you?
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Has Denison Avenue made you think of elder care differently, particularly for lower-income seniors whose families cannot care for them?
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What do you think the future holds for Cho Sum? How do you imagine her life unfolding after Denison Avenue ends?