Is this difference in their interpretation formed by their political backgrounds, or is it simply a case of optimism vs. De Chardin was writing in the 1950s, after WWII and before Vietnam, while Elster was part of the War on Terror. In fact, de Chardin theorized that the omega point was the eventual unification of man and the divine – a far cry from Elster’s return to inorganic matter. The first mention of the omega point occurs when Elster is speaking of his view on human nature and references the philosopher Teilhard de Chardin. Would you watch Finley’s documentary of Elster, if it were real? Is Jessie right, that it doesn’t need to be a film and might as well be a magazine article, or does Finley’s project need the medium of film to be a successful portrait of a behind-the-scenes policy maker?ĥ.

Do you agree with his view of time and literature? Consider the origins of literature in oral traditions, which used narrative as a means of connecting to the past in what could be considered a refutation of time.Ĥ. He believes that time is, at heart, about fear, and that literature is meant to relieve that fear. Elster tells Jessie and Finley that he goes to the desert to escape “the usual terror” of measured time which he feels is unavoidable in cities. How does the pacing of the novel shape the reading experience? Does immediate immersion and gradual context pull you into the story faster, or hold you at a distance?ģ. 60, or about Jessie and the watcher’s meeting until the end of the novel. For example, we don’t find out how Elster and Finley meet until pg. Characters are introduced abruptly in Point Omega, with context and background information revealed later. What was Elster’s motivation for inviting Finley out to the desert? Did he ever intend to be in the movie, or was he simply lonely?Ģ. When she suddenly disappears, it throws the men into a tailspin that forces them to confront the realities they’ve been hiding from.ġ.

Sent by her mother, who dislikes Jessie’s new boyfriend, Jessie changes the dynamic and sets Finley on edge with a confused attraction. The men spend their time discussing philosophy and politics, spinning their mental wheels, until the arrival of Elster’s daughter Jessie. He follows the reclusive Elster out to a desert cabin in an attempt to convince him to be in a new film. When he learns about Richard Elster, a scholar who was an advisor to the military for the War on Terror, he thinks he has found it. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.ĭocumentary filmmaker Jim Finley is divorced and adrift in New York City and looking for a subject for his next film. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. This reading group guide for Point Omega by Don DeLillo includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club.

Point omega delillo