Book Club Discussion From
Faeth Houle
Lit Wits Book Club
Fort Cooper Chapter, NSDAR
1. As you are aware, DAR is interested in genealogy. Those of us in the DAR can all trace with documentation an ancestor in the Revolutionary War, and some of us are documented to the original Mayflower. How important do you think it is to trace family and share it? Why? What are some of the ways to share family stories?
2. Which story stood out to you the most? Why? Do you have any stories from your own families you would be willing to share? Any secrets??
3. Several generations -Caroline, Annie, Elizabeth-wore the “brown silk dress” as a wedding dress. Do you have any items from past generations that have that has been given to you?
Do you have any items that are precious to you that you will be passing on to the next generation?
4. Speaking of weddings, talk about the types of weddings in this book? Jumping the broom, having two cakes, hand-bound. Tell about your own wedding, if you are married, or what type of wedding would you like to have? How have wedding traditions changed?
5. Physical characteristics appear throughout the generations-red hair is an example. What physical characteristics run in your family?
6. Why didn’t the bible burn when the plantation was burned?
7. What did you know about an Irish wake before reading this book? Did you learn anything new about Irish wakes? Covered mirrors are a tradition in some cultures.
8 Have you ever heard of the “unsightly school”
9 The author incorporates events from each generation. If you were writing your family story, would you choose any different events? Why? What would they be?
10. Elise pretended to be married in the late 1940s. How have “rules” changed since that time? Is it for the better or worse?
11. Dr. Cooper arranged fake birth/death certificates? (pg 310) Would you condone that in the way it would affect your research?
12. Adam’s stepmother agreed to raise him. Discuss the effect this had on his life and also Deborah’s.
13. As a woman in the 60s 70s, did you ever experience prejudice? Explain.
14. Who was the man behind Mrs. McDonald at the train station? Did Adam survive his injuries from the war? Why didn’t he contact his daughter?
15. What does the bible opening and closing the church door signify?
16. Mindy Harris tells a completely different story from the one Katherine has learned. How does this happen? Is this foreshadowing for the next book?