MAY BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION

What did you all think?  Certainly a very different type of read than our April book club selection. And, yes, this discussion definitely has spoilers so if you have not yet finished reading yet, you may want to postpone reading this until later on. I have a bunch of questions that came up as I was reading.  I am anxious to learn what you thought.


Julie's name changed to Jules after her first summer at Spirit of the Woods.  Do you think her name change symbolized a deeper self change within her?

The theme of class-ism came up quite a bit in the story.  The characters made it clear that we really only identify with the one class that we are in.  Do you agree?  I am thinking to the part of the book where Jules and her sister have the discussion where Jules asks her sister if she was ever jealous of her.  It seemed like Jules definitely assumed that since she had higher class friends her life was more interesting.   Maybe class only exists to those who care?


What are your thoughts on Jules' jealousy issues? It made me understand that you waste a lot of life's moments being jealous.  Sometimes for me, Jules was a bit too much to take with all of her whining and complaining and comparing.  At the same time, my heart ached for how much she was hurting.


Did you cry when Ethan died? I sure did.


Do you think Goodman Wolf got away with a crime because of his status? Based on the discussions between Cathy and Jules and the fact that Goodman did flee, it makes me believe that he raped Cathy and really stole her childhood adolescence.


I think what I liked most about the book was seeing how each character evolved over the course of growing up.  I loved reading about when they were all children because it evoked a strong sense of nostalgia in me.  Childhood really was in the "good old days."

Do you have any thoughts to add?  I can't wait to read your comments.