READING GROUPS

Below you will find helpful discussion questions to guide your reading group through an engaging experience! Annette regularly meets with reading groups in person and remotely through Skype, FaceTime or Zoom. To arrange a visit, please submit your request on the Contact Page.

Maggie’s Place

  1. People in their Seventies are not typical characters in novels. How did you respond to the question of age?

  2. Share a favorite quote from the book. Why did this quote stand out?

  3. What feelings did this book evoke for you? How did you respond to Ed’s character?

  4. Which character in the book would you most like to meet?

  5. What do you think of the book’s title? How does it relate to the book’s   content?       

  6. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was she trying to convey?

  7. How original and unique was this book?

  8. If you could hear this same story from another character’s point of view, which character would you choose?

  9. Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of people you know?

  10. If you were going to write a sequel to this book, what would happen to Carly and Paulo?

The Accidental Marriage

  1. A teacher used this metaphor to describe relationships with in-laws: think of a new marriage as a couple making their way down a difficult path in a valley. The family of origin is up on the bluff overlooking the valley; they are either applauding the new couple, or they are throwing rocks. What are the rocks being thrown in this story?

  2. What effect does the extended family have on a new marriage?

  3. Does Nina’s experience as a new teacher reflect what was occurring in her marriage? How?

  4. If you could take Nina aside, what advice would you offer?

  5. Have society’s expectations of gender roles changed significantly since the Seventies and Sixties? What have you observed in your family of origin and your immediate family?

  6. If this story were being made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

  7. If you have been a mother-in-law, how has that experience changed your perspective about yourself as a daughter-in-law? What would you change about either experience?

Waiting for the Light to Change

  1. How does Sarah’s behavior impact her children? Her students?

  2. If Sarah had known about her mother’s involvement, how could she have responded?

  3. Adultery is the inciting incident in this novel. Nearly forty percent of all wives will experience their husband’s serious sexual involvement with another woman.  What can be learned from Sarah’s response?

  4. How would you contrast Meg and Sarah as teachers? As friends?

  5. How should the administrators, the teachers, and the other students dealt with Tyler and Brax? Have you experienced similar personality types?

  6. Jenny is a classic socially isolated child; what societal forces turned her into a victim?

  7. Forgiveness—not reconciliation-- is a central theme in this novel.  Can you justify Sarah’s inability to forgive?