Cosmopolis discussion

I have chose this as my book club's read this month. I am writing questions and would love help from the GoodReads community. Our first meeting was on the first 54 pages. Here is what I came up with:



1. Eric Packer has been compared to Odysseus. Odysseus has the defining character traits of a leader: strength, courage, nobility, a thirst for glory, and confidence in his authority. His most distinguishing trait, however, is his sharp intellect. Would you agree with the statement?

2. The novel begins with a quote, (“a rat became the unit of currency”) from writer Zbigniew Herbert’s poem “Report From the Besieged City.” So far has this become a foretelling for future analogies?

3. After Packer’s interaction with both Shifrin, Fancher and Melmen, what do you believe Packer’s view of women is? Each woman has a different interaction with Packer, what does this show about their characters? About Packer’s?

Anything you can add would be greatly appreciated... I have to work on pages 55-148 now.