Author Reading and Book Signing in Spring Grove

Summer is here! 
I am excited to have been invited to do a few Author Readings and Book Signings this year. I'll be in St. Louis, MO at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, in Memphis, TN at Novel., and in my hometown of Spring Grove, MN at the Public Library. The Reading in Spring Grove will be on Thursday, August 18th at 6:30 PM.  The library has chosen Driftless for a community-wide read this summer. What an honor for me to have my hometown choose my book to read and discuss. I'll post dates for the other Author events at a later time.

I am thrilled to be able to do these readings.  If you know of other independent bookstores that would be interested in having me come for an Author Reading and Book Signing,  you have my permission to point them in my direction. I may be contacted on this blog.  Or ArdysBrevigRichards https://www.facebook.com/DriftlessStory 

If you have not already read Driftless, I hope it's on your summer reading list. These fifteen questions may facilitate discussion in your book group. 

 

Reading Group Questions and

Topics for Discussion

1. What is the overall theme or message of Driftless?

2. Why do you think the author chose that title for this historical novel?

3.  Identify the values apparent in Driftless and compare them to those of today. Do you think these values relate to the type of community where the story takes place––a homogenous town and countryside populated with families that share a common ethnicity and religion?

4.  Much of the novel is told in Caroline's voice. Do you think that the first-person narrative approach is effective?

5.  There are many examples of friendship in the book: Arvid/Bear, Marit/Orpha, Caroline/Marilyn/Celia. Compare and contrast these friendships. 

6.  Describe Marit physically/emotionally. Where does she get her strength?

7.  Caroline and Arvid married quickly, giving them little time to discuss their backgrounds and experiences. Explain how this complicated their lives. Do you think that some people truly "fall in love" when they first meet? 

8.  Caroline was a stranger to the part of Minnesota that would become her new home. She did not share the same ethnic background. She'd never been on a farm, nor had she lived without electricity or indoor plumbing. What were the likely thoughts of Arvid's neighbors and church members about his choice for a wife?

9.  When Arvid went to church after Caroline's hospitalization, he discovered the congregation already knew where she'd gone. If you were in his shoes, would you have found it comforting that friends and neighbors had already heard the tragic story? If not comforting, how would you have felt?

10. Why do you think Arvid waited as long as he did before hospitalizing Caroline the second time?

11. As more of Caroline's life experiences were exposed, did your feelings about her change?

12. In 1948, there was a stigma, perhaps shame, attached to having a family member in a mental hospital. Do you think the kindness and support shown to Arvid and Marit was typical of that era? Is that stigma any less in today's world?

13. Which scenes or developments in the story affected you most?

14. How does the setting or landscape of Driftless play a role in the story? Is the setting itself a character?

15. A question for fun: What stories have you heard from your own parents or grandparents about their courting days, their engagements, and weddings? 

#driftless, #historical fiction, #AuthorReadings, #SpineBookstoreAndCafe, #Novel., #SpringGrovePublicLibrary, #DiscusionQuestions