NOw for sale on Amazon.com Larry McKenna's new novel

                                A CHURCH, A NEWSPAPER, & A BAR (Discussion Questions)

📚Big Picture Questions

1. The title A Church, A Newspaper, & A Bar highlights three central institutions. What do each of these represent in the community? How do they shape the town’s identity?
2. If you had to pick one of the three as the “heart” of the story, which would it be and why?
3. How does the setting influence the characters’ decisions and relationships?

👥Character & Relationships

1. Which character did you find most relatable or compelling? What made them stand out?
2. How do the characters change (or resist change) over the course of the story?
3. Are there any characters whose motivations you questioned or disagreed with? Why?
4. How do relationships in the book reflect real-life small-town dynamics?

🧠Themes & Ideas

1. The book touches on community, tradition, and change. Where do you see tension between these ideas?
2. How do faith, media, and social life intersect in the story?
3. What role does loyalty—to people, institutions, or beliefs—play in the book?
4. Did the story challenge any of your assumptions about small towns or community life?

🗞Symbolism & Structure

1. What does the newspaper symbolize beyond just reporting the news?
2. In what ways does the bar function as more than just a social setting?
3. How does the church influence both public and private lives in the story?
4. Did you notice any recurring symbols or moments that tied the three institutions
   together?

💬Personal Reflection

1. Which scene or moment stayed with you the most, and why?
2. Did the story remind you of your own community or experiences?
3. If you lived in this town, where do you think you’d spend most of your time—church,
   newspaper office, or bar? Why?
4. What would you have done differently if you were in one of the main character’s shoes?

🔄Debate & “What If” Questions

20. Were the characters’ choices justified, given their circumstances?
21. What might have happened if one of the three institutions didn’t exist?
22. Does the book lean more toward nostalgia or realism? Defend your answer. 23. How might the story change if it were set today?

✍Closing Thoughts

24. What message or takeaway do you think the author wanted readers to leave with? 25. If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?