Questions for Book Clubs and Reading Groups
- If you were accosted for your purse, what would you have done?
- If your home was burgled, how would you have reacted?
- What might you have advised Elaine after her fiancé dumped her about dating?
- Elaine seems competent in her job. Why do you suppose she seems less confident when dating?
- Cliff is immediately interested in Elaine, but his backstory makes him cautious. How does this relate to how he interacts with the little children in his schoolroom?
- Have you ever adopted/owned a dog? In what way(s) might you have predicted Bandit’s reaction to the men Elaine dates? What about Cliff causes Bandit to accept him so readily?
- How might you have responded to a man like Cliff who seems to reticent to show his attraction to you?
- Elaine is especially close to Chris, her twin, and to Deb, her older sister. How does their interaction with her illustrate that closeness?
- Cliff overhears the comments of the other firefighters and concludes they are talking about Elaine. Should he have warned her against going out with any of them?
- How would you describe Elaine’s relationship with her father, Nathan?
- Elaine considers herself a constant antagonist to her mother. Why does she feels this way?
- Consider Cliff’s backstory regarding Nadia. Were you his counselor, what might you have suggested to him to relieve him of the guilt he still feels?
- Should Cliff have confronted Iona directly before accompanying Elaine to a family Sunday dinner?
- Were you to predict it, what elements in Cliff’s background would make him an acceptable man to Nathan Lambert in Elaine’s life?
