If you need a head start on your own book club discussion, we suggest the following questions might be of help:

1.  In the first chapter all the main characters are introduced.  What were your first impressions of Prate, Irene, Newell, Jackson and Billie?
2. Change is a major source of stress in our lives.  What significant changes have occurred and are occurring in the lives of each of the main characters?
3. What is your impression of Billie as a neighbor?  Is she a little too forward in her friendliness to Prate or is she just a caring neighbor?
4. Psychologists tell us that people who are similar in attitudes, interests, and backgrounds tend to be attracted to each other and the most successful romantic couples tend to be similar in physical attractiveness.  How does this relate to Prate and Irene?
5. The three Marshbanks males are at three different stages in the life cycle- middle childhood, middle adulthood and older age.  How is each of their lives representative of the expected challenges of their stage of life?  What special challenges does each of them face?
6.  Prate was a house painter by trade but painting itself seemed to be more than that to him.  Does this seem to help or hinder his relationship with Newell?
7. How do Prate and Jackson begin their time together?  Do you agree or disagree with Prate’s approach to Jackson?  What impression do we get of Newell as a father at Jones Gap State Park?  What is the significance of that park to the Marshbanks family?
8. During the time that Jackson is with Prate, Irene, Jackson, Prate and Billie all seem to be benefitting.  What explains that?
9. What is your impression of Rolling Hills as an assisted living facility? How realistic are the problems described at Rolling Hills?  What changes do we see in Rolling Hills over the course of the book? 
10. On the trip to Penland Irene seems better.  She talks about Sandy’s death and her disease with insight.  In what other ways does she show improvement during the Penland stay?
11. The three Marshbanks men take a walk to watch the bears.  What happens between Jackson, Prate and Newell?  What is different from the Jones Gap trip?
12. After the Penland trip there are many changes for all the main characters:  Billie, Newell, Irene and Jackson.  What are these?  Where is Prate at this point in his life?
13. Does the meeting of old man Gudger and his new “friend” predict a future for Prate?

For more discussion questions, visit the author's website.