[BOOK CLUB]: Love, Simon (Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda)
Hey guys,
So we already have the Books! thread (where you're welcome to post what you're currently reading :D) but I thought it'd be cool to start our very own book club on the forums! This will be an ongoing feature where we'll have threads to discuss a specific book - what we liked, what we didn't like, what themes are explored, how we can relate things back to our own life etc.
The first book we'll be discussing is Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, otherwise known by its film title: Love, Simon.
If you're not familiar with the synopsis, here's one from Wikipedia:
Simon Spier is a closeted gay 16-year-old junior in high school, and a fond musical theater student. Unknown to everyone, including his family and friends, Simon has been emailing with someone named "Blue", using the pseudonym "Jacques". As the two get closer however, Simon starts to get blackmailed, his secret threatened to be released if he doesn't play wingman for Martin, the class clown. Now, his sexual orientation and the privacy of the guy that he has been confiding in could possibly be compromised. Simon must find a way to step out of his comfort zone, before he is pushed out, and before he loses Blue, who gets more flirtatious every day.
Feel free to post some of your own discussion questions if you've already read the book/watched the movie, otherwise I'll post some shortly 🙂
Want to join our book club? Head down to your local bookstore or library, get your hands on a copy of the book (and watch the movie, too, if you haven't already :P) and then come back to this thread to share your thoughts!
Comments
Ahhh yes @lokifish I'm so excited for this!! Haven't read the book yet but I'm going to put it on hold at the library today!
So I apologise for taking so long to come back to this. I didn't forget! 😛
I think spoilers are okay as long as they're clearly signposted? I'm happy to go with whatever everybody else thinks 🙂
Anyway... here are some questions for you all! 😄
Do you think straight people should have to "come out"? Or should it be something that nobody has to do, whether they're gay or straight (or anywhere in between)?
Simon finds solace in his drama/theatre group at school. What are some hobbies you have that help you feel happy and connected to the world?
The creeksecrets Tumblr is a major source of anxiety for Simon and his peers. What are some things we can do if we find gossip about ourselves being spread online?
Anonymous identities (like we have here on the forums!) allow Simon and his fellow lover "Blue" to become comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality. Eventually, though, it makes things more complicated as Simon decides he wants to know Blue's real identity. What are some pros/cons of anonymity? Why do you think it's important for places like the ReachOut forums to maintain anonymity?
Curious to know what everyone thinks!
These are such great questions @lokifish!!
Do you think straight people should have to "come out"? Or should it be something that nobody has to do, whether they're gay or straight (or anywhere in between)?
I think it should be something that no one has to do, irrespective of sexual orientation. However, that's just my opinion, and I mean absolutely no offence if my view clashes with that of anyone else. 🙂
Simon finds solace in his drama/theatre group at school. What are some hobbies you have that help you feel happy and connected to the world?
Ooooh, I especially love this one. For me the biggest hobby that makes me feel connected to the world is (ironically) reading. I love both the act of reading itself and discussing books I've read or want to read with different people. In fact, I had a lovely book discussion with a friend earlier today 🙂
The creeksecrets Tumblr is a major source of anxiety for Simon and his peers. What are some things we can do if we find gossip about ourselves being spread online?
Hmmm... I'm very lucky in the sense that I've never had to deal with anything like that. But depending on how extreme it is, I imagine informing the police would be an option, one which would ideally put a stop to it. The most important thing, I think, would be to talk to someone you trust, and to know that you don't have to tackle this tough stuff on your own.
Anonymous identities (like we have here on the forums!) allow Simon and his fellow lover "Blue" to become comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality. Eventually, though, it makes things more complicated as Simon decides he wants to know Blue's real identity. What are some pros/cons of anonymity? Why do you think it's important for places like the ReachOut forums to maintain anonymity?
Pros: freedom of expression, to be able to say things that we might not be able to say to the people we know in real life.
Cons: if we form a close bond with someone and would like to get to know them better outside of the forums, that's not possible.
Another pro, I think, is that anonymity can be a lot less anxiety inducing for some people than face to face, identified communication.
I agree with the others, these are great questions @lokifish!
Do you think straight people should have to "come out"? Or should it be something that nobody has to do, whether they're gay or straight (or anywhere in between)?
Personally, I don't think people should "come out" to whatever sexual orientation they identify with. I think it just puts too much stress over something that shouldn't be needed to be stressed over.
Simon finds solace in his drama/theatre group at school. What are some hobbies you have that help you feel happy and connected to the world?
Like Simon, I also did a bit of Drama in high school and enjoyed it as much as Simon did! As for hobbies that make me feel happy and connected to the world, I guess reading also.
The creeksecrets Tumblr is a major source of anxiety for Simon and his peers. What are some things we can do if we find gossip about ourselves being spread online?
Hmm... I've never been in this position before either but should this happen to me... I would report it straight away as I think it's not okay for these things to be posted online.
Anonymous identities (like we have here on the forums!) allow Simon and his fellow lover "Blue" to become comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality. Eventually, though, it makes things more complicated as Simon decides he wants to know Blue's real identity. What are some pros/cons of anonymity? Why do you think it's important for places like the ReachOut forums to maintain anonymity?
I agree with the others' answers to this one. I think it is important for places like ReachOut to maintain anonymity so that everyone is able to freely express what's going on for them without the fear of being judged, criticised, etc.
I honestly think it’s kind of annoying tbh about how lgbt people have to come out, hopefully there will be a time where there is no need because love is love and it’s no ones business in who you like.
Simon finds solace in his drama/theatre group at school. What are some hobbies you have that help you feel happy and connected to the world?
I guess whilst I was at school, school sports but because I no longer do any team sports I would have to say volunteering and hopefully I’ll get to meet some new people at university this semester....
The creeksecrets Tumblr is a major source of anxiety for Simon and his peers. What are some things we can do if we find gossip about ourselves being spread online?
I’ve never been in this position before, but if I had seen it I’d most likely report it.
Anonymous identities (like we have here on the forums!) allow Simon and his fellow lover "Blue" to become comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality. Eventually, though, it makes things more complicated as Simon decides he wants to know Blue's real identity. What are some pros/cons of anonymity? Why do you think it's important for places like the ReachOut forums to maintain anonymity?
Like above, anonymity can be good because you’re able to put your opinions out without being judged etc, but some people like to use it for hate which is a shame 😕
Yay Book Club is back! 😄 Awesome questions @lokifish, don't forget to answer them yourself! 😄
Do you think straight people should have to "come out"? Or should it be something that nobody has to do, whether they're gay or straight (or anywhere in between)?
I'm two minds about this one. My simple answer, is I'd like a world where straight isn't the default. Whether it means no one comes out or straight people come out I'm indifferent to.
Simon finds solace in his drama/theatre group at school. What are some hobbies you have that help you feel happy and connected to the world?
Hm... Drama is definitely so much fun! I was a part of my drama/theatre group in school. Hobbies that make me happy would be writing and art (not so much connected though :P)
The creeksecrets Tumblr is a major source of anxiety for Simon and his peers. What are some things we can do if we find gossip about ourselves being spread online?
Not go online? 😛 I have no idea to be honest, gossip has never really bothered me in high school because I had some friends/people I hung out with and what anyone else thought never mattered to me.
Anonymous identities (like we have here on the forums!) allow Simon and his fellow lover "Blue" to become comfortable expressing themselves and their sexuality. Eventually, though, it makes things more complicated as Simon decides he wants to know Blue's real identity. What are some pros/cons of anonymity? Why do you think it's important for places like the ReachOut forums to maintain anonymity?
Ooooh good question. Pros: being able to have the freedom to be yourself as you please. There's no expectations of who you are, so there's no need to conform to the pressures that others have placed on you. Cons: well you can make some great friends but you'll never know who they are and be able to meet them outside of the screen, which can suck sometimes. BUT I think it's so important places like ReachOut are anonymous because some of things we talk about are private things, and anonymity makes these spaces safer to share those feelings and thoughts.
(I haven't actually read the book, not my sort of thing, but these questions were so great, I wanted to answer them anyway! Maybe I'll pick it up at the library if I ever stop rereading things :P)
