Here are three questions to open up the discussion for October's book... keep in mind, I'm new to this, if anyone has any suggestions or wants to briefly take the reins from me to steer us in a better direction, please feel free.There are questions at the back of the book, and, I'm posting the first three today...
1. Nicky notes near the beginning of Light on Snow that her father actively avoids civilization, yet when they find Baby Doris he quickly breaks out of his self-imposed exile to help save the abandoned infant. Why do you think he chooses to become so involved in this situation?
I think because he's lost his own small child, that he feels maybe obligated to help this child, or maybe because he's subconsciously aware of the life he's basically taken from his own daughter, that he should help the baby. And, morally, I don't think he really even has a choice in something like this. I don't think he really gets all that involved in the situation anyway...he finds the baby and takes her to the hospital. He doesn't get too much more involved than that until the mother shows up on his doorstep, and, then, he's sort of forced into being involved.
2. Discuss the relationship between Nicky and her father as the novel opens. In what ways is their relationship unique? In what ways does it reflect or subvert the traditional roles of parent and child?
Geez, it's been so long since I read it, and, I don't have the book in front of me, now! Um...I'd say that in a lot of ways, her father (was his name Robert?) wasn't really parenting her. She was relatively self sufficient, and, possibly even parenting him in some ways.
3. The December days through which Light on Snow unfolds represent a rite of passage for Nicky in many ways. How is she ultimately influenced by what she experiences in these weeks? What does Nicky draw from her relationships with the various adults around her? Do you think they learn something from her as well?
I think the situation helps her relationship with her father tremendously, even though it tears it down briefly near the end of the book. She phsyically goes through a change when she starts her period...and, I think Charlotte and Nicky's father learn something from Nicky...I think Nicky's father has learned that it's time to move on, that's it's good for both of them if they each start living again. And, I think Charlotte learns trust in people, because they don't turn her in, and, Nicky really takes to her.
Dang, I'm just not doing well with my answers!
Overall, I liked the book. It's not one that I'd pick up again or really recommend to others. It's a good read, though, and, I enjoyed it. I didn't feel a particular attachment to the characters, but, I did feel different emotions while reading it. And, the whole story about how the mother/wife and sister/daughter died, that really stuck in my head for a few days, just because my own mother was going on a road trip, and, it made me worry more than usual about her and her friend getting into a car accident. Other than that, though, as soon as I closed the book, I let the characters go. Hope that makes sense. I honestly have to say, though, from remembering back, the only character I actually liked was the dad. I'll have to skim through the book again, or listen to what you all are saying to help jog my memory.
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