Evening all...
I thought I'd kick off with some proper reading group type questions, just for a change. Theres quite a few readers guides to this book (it was an Oprah pick and a big hit in USA) - here's the pick of the bunch
What do you feel caused the terrible pain and anguish that occurs through the Piper family? Did it all start with Mr Mahmoud abandoning his daughter? or was James's inherent nature to be incestuous? Or was it the isolation of the island setting, the Depression and the melting pot of religions/races that brought about unhappiness and eventual disaster?
James is a horrible but complex character. What drove him at times to protect his family and at times to destroy them? Did you feel you understood him at all or did you think he was pretty much a born monster?
Religion and skin color play a large role in separating and defining the characters in this novel. For example, Mrs. Luvovitz, Materia's only friend, is Jewish and married to the kosher butcher. James is Protestant and married to the Catholic Materia. Materia's father was Catholic but claims he took the name Mahmoud in honor of the Muslim woman who protected him from death. Also, Materia is Lebanese and dark. James is Gaelic and pale. James doesn't even realize that Albert, his best friend in the mine, is black because of the soot and dim lighting. Jameel who is Lebanese and married to Materia's sister Camille is "shit-scared of being seen as colored". What role do you think all these differences play in the interactions of the characters? And, how do you think these differences would be seen today as opposed to 100 years ago?
What did you think of the spiritual/magic elements of the book (Lily's sainthood, the visions, the ghosts)? do you feel it was a religious book?
Did the author surprise you with the plot twists? Or did you feel her structural style guides you into suspicions (did you guess who was going to be the father of Kathleen's twins?)