Two Matadors
Two Matadors
Overview
Life Stories: Points to Consider 1) InTwo Matadors, a story of passion and danger, with conflicts, plot-twists and surprises, the reader undertakes a journey to Sevilla, Spain. At the onset, readers meet the author, Morisco, who admits, "I really hadn't come to tell his story. I came for the wine andflamenco." As fate would have it, the story of a lifetime begins. Did you resonate withTwo Matadors, and what stood out most to you in this storyline?2) Then the reader meets the old man, as he begins to recount the love story of two brothers, Antonio & Fernando--identical twins, who are in love with the same woman. Do you think Morisco's account, as told by the old man, accurately describes the life story of Antonio and Isabella? Given various pivotal scenes in the book, which passage or character shocked you or seemed most relevant to the plot?3) As the narrator, Morisco sets the tone for the book. How are Morisco's opinions and beliefs transformed in the twenty-four hours he spends with Antonio?4) As mirror-image twins, Antonio and Fernando seem identical, but they are different, and yet over time they literally transform into one another. Fernando accuses Antonio of becoming "the very thing that he fights," while Antonio insists that Fernando is "afraid to live." Which brother wins the argument? In Antonio's place, would you have been true to the vow you made to your brother?5) Antonio fights and defeats five bulls named in the story:Pecado(Sin),Diablo(Devil),Muerte(Death),Pesar(Regret), and finally,Infierno(Hell), while his son, José, fightsNemesis(Retribution). As readers, did you attach any significance to the names of the bulls and their relevance to the story? If bulls could represent challenges and defining moments, can you name and describe the bulls in your life story, the circumstances in which you have met or fought with them, and how or if you have defeated them?6) As the reader indulges in relationship dynamics, Veronica compares a bullfight to "the love affair between a man and a woman." Is this comparison appropriate? In class with Antonio, Fernando's male student likens the matador to "the true believer, living within a society of unbelievers." What does he mean in this comparison? Do you agree with either assessment?7) Given we all have a story to tell--if someone were to write your life story, what would be its major themes? Who or what would be the antagonist? Who would be your supporting cast? What would be the major and/or final point of the story?8) Stories become life legends. Have you ever been profoundly impacted by the life story of someone else, living or dead? How were you changed? Antonio tells Morisco that every life story ends in tragedy (in death). What is the life lesson in Antonio's story? In Isabella's story? In Veronica's story? In Fernando's story? In José's story, in Morisco's story?9) Relating to symbols inTwo Matadors, what is the significance of the sun; the stars and moon; the time of day; books;Shabbat Shabbaton; the bull; the bullfight; the sword; the plaza; the heart; the vow; the Hand of God; bloodlines; thepasodoble a flamenco; the mountain; the flower; the angel; the fireplace log; the pilgrimage; the cicada; the miracle; and the life of a matador.10) AtMano de Dios, Antonio and Isabella stand on the balcony and see the "Hand of God." Have you ever seen any evidence of a higher or greater force in your life? Are the lives of Antonio and Isabella better or worse because they are believers? How does believing affect the disposition and the greater arc of a life?11) Antonio and Isabella have three wedding nights in Morocco. What is Antonio's goal on the first night? How does the second night contrast with the first? What is the significance of the balcony scene on the third night? Contrast the lovemaking of the third night with the couple's week atIngles Hotelin Madrid.12) Life changing moments occur. Does Morisco really believe what he sees on the plaza sand in the moment before Antonio dies? Have you ever had an experience that could not be explained by any term short of "miraculous?" Was it a life-changing event for you? IfTwo Matadorshas inspired you, please share this story with friends and book clubs around the globe. The author, Marcus McGee, is available for author podcasts and to share personal insights.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Life Stories: Points to Consider 1) InTwo Matadors, a story of passion and danger, with conflicts, plot-twists and surprises, the reader undertakes a journey to Sevilla, Spain. At the onset, readers meet the author, Morisco, who admits, "I really hadn't come to tell his story. I came for the wine andflamenco." As fate would have it, the story of a lifetime begins. Did you resonate withTwo Matadors, and what stood out most to you in this storyline?2) Then the reader meets the old man, as he begins to recount the love story of two brothers, Antonio & Fernando--identical twins, who are in love with the same woman. Do you think Morisco's account, as told by the old man, accurately describes the life story of Antonio and Isabella? Given various pivotal scenes in the book, which passage or character shocked you or seemed most relevant to the plot?3) As the narrator, Morisco sets the tone for the book. How are Morisco's opinions and beliefs transformed in the twenty-four hours he spends with Antonio?4) As mirror-image twins, Antonio and Fernando seem identical, but they are different, and yet over time they literally transform into one another. Fernando accuses Antonio of becoming "the very thing that he fights," while Antonio insists that Fernando is "afraid to live." Which brother wins the argument? In Antonio's place, would you have been true to the vow you made to your brother?5) Antonio fights and defeats five bulls named in the story:Pecado(Sin),Diablo(Devil),Muerte(Death),Pesar(Regret), and finally,Infierno(Hell), while his son, José, fightsNemesis(Retribution). As readers, did you attach any significance to the names of the bulls and their relevance to the story? If bulls could represent challenges and defining moments, can you name and describe the bulls in your life story, the circumstances in which you have met or fought with them, and how or if you have defeated them?6) As the reader indulges in relationship dynamics, Veronica compares a bullfight to "the love affair between a man and a woman." Is this comparison appropriate? In class with Antonio, Fernando's male student likens the matador to "the true believer, living within a society of unbelievers." What does he mean in this comparison? Do you agree with either assessment?7) Given we all have a story to tell--if someone were to write your life story, what would be its major themes? Who or what would be the antagonist? Who would be your supporting cast? What would be the major and/or final point of the story?8) Stories become life legends. Have you ever been profoundly impacted by the life story of someone else, living or dead? How were you changed? Antonio tells Morisco that every life story ends in tragedy (in death). What is the life lesson in Antonio's story? In Isabella's story? In Veronica's story? In Fernando's story? In José's story, in Morisco's story?9) Relating to symbols inTwo Matadors, what is the significance of the sun; the stars and moon; the time of day; books;Shabbat Shabbaton; the bull; the bullfight; the sword; the plaza; the heart; the vow; the Hand of God; bloodlines; thepasodoble a flamenco; the mountain; the flower; the angel; the fireplace log; the pilgrimage; the cicada; the miracle; and the life of a matador.10) AtMano de Dios, Antonio and Isabella stand on the balcony and see the "Hand of God." Have you ever seen any evidence of a higher or greater force in your life? Are the lives of Antonio and Isabella better or worse because they are believers? How does believing affect the disposition and the greater arc of a life?11) Antonio and Isabella have three wedding nights in Morocco. What is Antonio's goal on the first night? How does the second night contrast with the first? What is the significance of the balcony scene on the third night? Contrast the lovemaking of the third night with the couple's week atIngles Hotelin Madrid.12) Life changing moments occur. Does Morisco really believe what he sees on the plaza sand in the moment before Antonio dies? Have you ever had an experience that could not be explained by any term short of "miraculous?" Was it a life-changing event for you? IfTwo Matadorshas inspired you, please share this story with friends and book clubs around the globe. The author, Marcus McGee, is available for author podcasts and to share personal insights.Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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