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~*~Jan Book Club Discussion Time~*~
| Wed, 01-17-2007 - 8:35am |
For those of you who are participating in our January Book Club----we are discussing today, the first half of the book!

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Question #1
When David hands his baby girl over to Caroline and tells Norah that she has died, what was your immediate emotional reaction?
I wasn't really surprised by his sending the baby away because I think that was a pretty common way of dealing with the disabled at that time. I was surprised he told Norah at all. Since she was out when she was born he
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
David describes feeling like "an aberration" within his own family (p. 7) and describes himself as feeling like "an imposter" in his professional life as a doctor (p. 8). Discuss David’s psyche, his history, and what led him to make that fateful decision on the night of his children’s birth.
I think David grew up feeling like he was the only "normal" one in his family. His sister was disabled, he felt his mom became disabled caring for his sister and after his sister's death, and he felt is father was disabled by poverty. His strive was
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
When David instructs Caroline to take Phoebe to the institution, Caroline could have flatly refused or she could have gone to the authorities. Why doesn’t she?
She does not go to the authorities because he has not broken any laws. It was lawful to send your child to an institution, particularly since he was also acting as the child's doctor. In those days a doctor's word was law and a nurse was taught to obey the doctor even if it went against your personal feelings. I grew up during this era with a father that was a doctor and a mother who was a nurse. There was a lot of discussion about this protocol in my house from my parents.
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
Though David wanted no part of her, Phoebe goes on to lead a full life, bringing much joy to Caroline and Al. Her story calls into question how we determine what kind of life is worth living. How would you define such a life?
Oh interesting question, especially as the parent of a disabled child. I don't think we can set a standard for another human being as to what constitiutes a quality of life. I think only the person themself can determine that and we have no right to make that decision for them. David was not disabled yet he had a very unhappy life. Outside of his work and photography it could be argued there was not much quality to his life. Phoebe was disabled, yet she was very happy to just enjoy her life
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
Throughout the novel, the characters often describe themselves as feeling as if they are watching their own lives from the outside. For instance, David describes the moment when his wife is going into labor and says "he felt strangely as if he himself were suspended in the room . . . watching them both from above" (p. 10). What do you think Edwards is trying to convey here?
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
After Norah has successfully destroyed the wasps’ nest, Edwards writes that there was something happening in Norah’s life, "an explosion, some way in which life could never be the same" (p. 139). What does she mean, and what is the significance of Norah’s "fight" with these wasps?
I think the wasps are her past issues and she has finally come to terms with them and is able to move on. Unforunately David is not in the same position and so she moves on without him.
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
The secret that David keeps is enormous and ultimately terribly destructive to himself and his family. Can you imagine a circumstance when it might be the right choice to shield those closest to you from the truth?
Not with something that big; it would be like trying to ignore the elephant in the middle of the living room. Can't be done; in some form it will come out eventually just as it did for David.
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
What do you think Norah’s reaction would have been if David had been honest with her from the beginning?
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
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