First off, thank you so much to Lisa, for actually partcipating in the book club activities the last couple of days! Sometimes, I really think I am just picking a book for myself to read and discuss with myself. And Lisa. ha. (and kelly, when i wrote this last nite, i hadn't seen hers yet either!)
If you actually DO want to partcipate in next month's selection and reading, go back to Monday and put in a suggestion for May's group read.
Now here are some discussion questions for Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah.
1. From her earliest memory, Tully feels abandoned by her mother and father. How does this sense of being unwanted influence her life? How does her troubled relationship with her mother lead to the decisions she makes in her life? Do children have an obligation of some kind to forgive their parents, even inthe face of repeated disappointment? How much do you think childhood heartaches make us who we are?
2. The Kate-Johnny-Tully triangle is one of the fundamental underpinnings of the novel. How does Johnny really feel about Tully? How does Tully feel about him?
3. When Chad leaves Tully, she rationalizes away her broken heart by saying,"if really loved me, he would wait for me." What does this reveal about Tully's perception of romantic love? How do these perceptions setthe stage for the rest of her life? Do you believe that Tully will ever fall in love?
4. Under what circumstances do you feel a betrayal is unforgivable? Do you feel that any of these characters crossed that line?
5. What role do you see Tully playing in Mara's life, after the pages of the novel are closed?
Leave your comments, and I will be back later to comment back!
4 comments:
It has been awhile since I have read this, so my answers probably won't be as succinct as I'd like them to be!
1. I think the way Tully was raised definitely affects who she is as an adult. I don't know that children are obligated to forgive their parents, but it seems like it's a necessary step to move on & get past something that happened. Harboring feelings of resentment for your whole life is not healthy, in my opinion. But I know it's easier said than done.
2. I think Johnny will always have feelings for Tully. If I was going to make this book into a movie, I would cast Scarlett Johanssen to play Tully. She is so good at playing the woman we love to hate. You know, the woman who will flirt with your husband or have 'no-strings-attached-sex', etc. I strongly dislike people like Tully. I think Tully probably enjoys the power that she will always have over Johnny.
3. I don't think Tully will ever fall in love. I think her career will always come first. She is sort of like Samantha Jones from SATC.
4. It's hard to say when betrayal is forgiveable... It really depends on the circumstances and how long 2 people have been friends. People make mistakes and use poor judgment, so I think sometimes you can forgive someone. But it's really fricking tough!
5. I think Tully will play a strong roll in Mara's life. She'll never replace Kate, but will be a strong female role model for Mara.
@ Lisa..
I agree that it is easier to said then done. I don't know if she should forgive her mom. I think for THAT to happen she would have to understand her mom and how she got in the position she did. However, I don't think Tully is capable of looking into a situation from another's viewpoint. For her, I think she just needs to get in therapy or don't think about it and focus on what she has. Forgiveness is something I don't think Tully is capable of.
2. I'm not so sure Johnny really has feelings for Tully. I think he obviously did at one time until he realized the person deep down she was. He admires her balls to the wall mentality but I also think for a mate for life Kate was much more his style. A ying to his yang if you will. Yeah, he might think Tully is hot but I think that is where it ended. Workwise they had a lot in common but I really think it ended there with him.
3. I agree. I don't think she is capable of loving another person until she can love herself.
4. I will be honest. I do not think I would have forgiven Tully for what she did to Kate on tv. That I believe is an unforgivable. Yeah, Kate was dying and perhaps I would want to talk to Tully one last time but I don't think I would be able to confide in her like I used to after that.
5. I kind of fear what would happen to Mara if Tully is her new role model. I shudder to think of the logic and actual mothering she will miss out on with Tully being one of her only female role models now!
Don't worry I do read the books with you guys (though I didn't read Middlesex just didn't think it would be something I could motivate myself to read after a long day haha). Anyways, here are my answers:
1. I DEFINITELY think the way kids are raised and things that happen to them affects them later thats why I think parents need to be SURE they are ready before they get pregnant. I don't think Tully necessarily has to forgive her mom, but I did wish she would realize she would NEVER be there for her. I know that's easy for me to say and I know it wouldn't be easy for her but I think it was necessary for her...
2. I personally don't think Johnny has feelings for Tully- sure he probably did when he was young but frankly I don't have feelings for ANYONE I had feelings for when I was younger lol. I don't think Tully has feelings for Johnny either but I think she has trouble with Kate having such a good relationship that she can't have.
3. I don't think Tully will ever fall in love or can- it just seems like you guys said- she is too busy with her other dreams, she hasn't realized that if you love someone it can't always be your priorities that come first, you have to think about them.
4. To be honest, in my own life I have never found something that someone has done to me to be unforgiveable...or at least I've never found the person to be unforgiveable. I think I'm a pretty forgiving person, however I think the line was definitely crossed with the TV incident- I'm not sure I could forgive that, but then again if I was dying I'd probably do what Kate did.
5. Lol- I worry about the Tully has a role model thing too. I think she will play a role in Mara's life, but I hope that Mara was old enough to remember Kate as her better role model haha.
I enjoyed this book, thanks for organizing this! I hope more people join us next month because I love our book club!
@ Kelly..
1. I see the generations of bad parenting on a daily basis at work! OMG. SOME PEOPLE NEED TO BE STERLIZED. But I agree, no way can her mom be a mom. Not possible.
2. I definitely think Tully thinks of Kate and Johnny's relationship as something that she SHOULD have and not Kate. I think Tully thinks Johnny loves her because that is what Tully wants to think! Just like Kate was always worrieda bout them together.
Thanks for partcipating!
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