March 09th, 2020

COST is our book for March!
Author: Roxana Robinson
The story revolves around Julia Lambert, mother of 2 & divorced who is visiting her elderly parents. 
Her mother suffers from Alzheimer's. Julia has more put on her plate when she discovers her younger song Jack has a heroin addiction. 

I will post an IGTV discussion of the first part of our book this Friday, March 13th at 4:30 P.M. (Central Time.) And a live video discussion on Friday March 27th, 12:30 p.m. 

Discussion Questions: 
*"People were so ready now to give up, throw everything away, but divorce was the solution to nothing." What is the author trying to communicate about the issue of divorce? 
*Have you or anyone you know had to move in & provide hospice care for family members? What impact did it have on their lives? 
*How are Julia & her father (Edward) alike? Do you think this puts a strain on their relationship?
*What do you know about heroin addicts and the life they lead? How does Jack put considerable stress on his family members by his choices? 
*Is Julia (the mother) in denial about Jack's addiction? Do loved ones sometimes go into denial in a state of over protection? 
*Steven & Jack have a complicated brother-brother relationship/ sibling rivalry.  Steven really lashes out at Wendell &  Julia (his parents) at the hospital; why do you think that is? How does Steven feel about Jack overall? (pg. 218-219) 
*Have you ever been pushed by someone as Harriet (Julia's sister) felt pushed by her father's elitism? (i.e. choosing to be a veterinarian instead of a doctor.) Why does her father consider her job a "lesser" one?
*How do Julia and Wendell reconnect with Jack after he breaks out of the hospital? If you were his mother or father, would you have bailed him out of jail? (to go to rehab) Why or why not? 
*Which character in the book do you identify most closely with? (Katherine, Edward, Julia, Wendell, Steven, Jack?)

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