book clubs are fun!

Here Is the Church was discussed by Friends of Smoot Memorial Library, King George, VA (pictured)

. . . WHERE DONNA JOINED THEM.  SHE HAS ALSO MET WITH THE ST. MARY BOOK CLUB IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA., TO TALK ABOUT BOTH THE HISTORY,  HERE IS THE CHURCH,  AND HER NOVEL,  MATTER OF DISCRETION.  


HERE ARE SOME QUESTION SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU, WHEN YOUR FRIENDS GET TOGETHER (OVER WINE AND CHEESE?) TO DISCUSS WHAT YOU LIKED ABOUT THE NOVEL . . . AND WHAT YOU DIDN'T:



MATTER OF DISCRETION


  1. The story was told in alternating perspectives by several different characters.  What did you think of that structure, and how did it add to your reading experience?
  2. Ferris confessed, but there was evidence that someone else might have been responsible for the crime.  Were you convinced of his guilt?  If not, who did you think killed Beverly?
  3. What did you think of the resolution of the crime?  Was Mia correct when she called the court-martial an anticlimax?  Did the ending of the novel--including the epilogue--take you by surprise?
  4. Father Damon was faced with a moral dilemma.  How well do you think he handled it? Donna has said that at its core this novel is a story of friendship.  How so?  There are several types of love depicted in these pages.  How many did you recognize?
  5. Donna loves both dogs and cats but admits to being more of a cat person.  Did you like the inclusion of the animal character?  Do you have a special animal in your life, and can you understand the "relationship" between Mia and Colette?
  6. The book is dedicated to two men, both priests, who believed in Donna as a writer.  Do you have special clergy or other authority figures in your life who have gone the extra mile for you?