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Pictures of Us is a great novel for reading groups and it is currently available for sale on eBay. If you are a member of a reading group / book club, or plan on starting a reading group, Pictures of Us is packed with issues that would make for a lively discussion. The author is also happy to answer any reading group / book club questions - it's like having the author as an honorary member of your book club.
Here is what the book is about:
Life isn't meant to be lived, it's meant to be planned.
Maggie Apperton is a woman with time on her hands. She's 62 and retired. Her children have grown up and moved away, and her husband spends most of his time running the family business. Fighting loneliness and boredom, Maggie starts a lunch club that meets once a month. To the other women in the club, her family looks functional enough - Isabel writes to her parents from her home in Paris, Patrtick visits regularly to play with the family dog , and Marcus has built a company that provides the money to do whatever he and Maggie would like. But in this family there are things that are never discussed.
Pictures of Us explores what happens when a family is irrevocably changed as its long-guarded secrets begin to surface. In this intimate look inside one family, Todd Alexander captures the emotional fallout that can occur when faced with the question: what if my family isn't what I think it is? This is a powerful exploration of whether loved ones will forgive almost anything of each other and how far the bond between parents and children will stretch before being shattered forever.
"It is a beautifully written story which highlights the complexity of family relationships. I found it hard to put down... Highly recommended." South Coast Register
"An interesting take on family and forgiveness." Gold Coast Bulletin
"Pictures of Us will engage anyone who has ever been intrigued or confused by their family." Travellink
"One of this year's most anticipated local releases." Sunday Herald Sun
Reading Group / Book Club sample questions
- What do you think Maggie was seeking when she started the lunch club?
- The idea that life can change in a second is a strong theme of the book. Do you agree? What are your thoughts on fate deciding our path?
- There are some strong characters in Pictures of Us. Which one is your favourite? Why?
- Which character has the most to learn in this story?
- How would you describe Patrick and Isabel's relationship?
- Do you think we have to go through the bad times in a marriage to appreciate the good?
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