The Familiar Forest discussion

as posted in our discussion forum:
http://www.thefamiliarforest.com/inde...

1. In the opening of the novel, Cannie thankfully observes how her daughter, Joy, is so different from herself. In what ways are Cannie and Joy different? In what ways are they similar? How much of these differences are specific to Cannie and Joy and how much are common to all mother/daughter pairs?

2. Jennifer Weiner has received praise for bringing her characters to life so convincingly. Do you find Joy believable as a typical teenage girl? What about the other teens in this book?

3. On page 68, Joy is furious with her mother for telling a familiar story about Joy's childhood. But Cannie can't figure out why her daughter is so upset. Identify moments in the novel where Joy is upset with something Cannie says or does, and Cannie doesn't understand why. Do you think Joy is being unfair, or is it Cannie who needs to snap out of it?

4. One of the things Cannie loves best about writing the Lyla Dare series is that she does it anonymously. This seems similar to the way many teens today use a screen name for chatting, MySpace, and other Internet activities. Why do you think using a pseudonym is so attractive to some people?

5. Joy is beautiful, but sees herself as flawed because of her hearing disability. Do you think a girl can be both beautiful and flawed? What does Cannie think about the fashion magazines that Elle gives to Joy? What does Joy think? Who do you most agree with, and why?

6. The author uses both Cannie's and Joy's point of view in order to emphasize the "generation gap" between the worlds of adult women and teenage girls. Is Cannie really just clueless? Are Shari and Elle really so dissimilar from Amber and herfriends? What does this novel say about growing up and about the different "types" of girls and women in the world?

7. Describe how various teens in this novel view their parents -- particularly their mothers. How do you feel about these characters? Do you find the perspective of the teens very different from that of the adults? Do you sympathize more with one "side" or another? Why or why not?

8. Joy notes on page 196 that her father's new wife, Emily, is so tiny and timid that Joy can't imagine her doing anything mean to anyone. But appearances are often deceiving. How do the appearances of the characters in this novel contradict who they are or what they are going through? Give specific examples.

9. Joy is constantly smoothing her hair over her ears to hide her hearing aids, or taking them out all together. What is she really trying to cover up? Is she ultimately successful? Why or why not?

10. Even though Cannie would be fine with Joy going to her cousin Tyler's bar mitzvah, Joy decides to attend on the sly. What does Joy hope will happen at the party? What does she learn about herself and about her family?

11. These days, it is more and more common to see remarried parents, stepsiblings, adoptions, etc. Do you think the definition of what makes a family "normal" has changed? Do you think the modern expressions of "family" makes relationships more or less complicated between adults and children?

12. As Joy and her classmates approach their bar/bat mitzvah dates, they struggle to shed their childhood and be perceived as adults by greater society, especially their peers and families. Identify the various elements of so-called adulthood that these teens try on. What is it that, finally, shows Joy what it means to be a grown-up?

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Cert...

2. Jennifer Weiner has received praise for bringing her characters to life so convincingly. Do you find Joy believable as a typical teenage girl? What about the other teens in this book?

They are not really like anyone that I have experienced. Maybe this is how people who really do not have much else to worry about are... (?) or maybe I just cannot relate to the Jewish culture and importance of their customs because I have not experienced them in my life.

3. On page 68, Joy is furious with her mother for telling a familiar story about Joy's childhood. But Cannie can't figure out why her daughter is so upset. Identify moments in the novel where Joy is upset with something Cannie says or does, and Cannie doesn't understand why. Do you think Joy is being unfair, or is it Cannie who needs to snap out of it?

I think they both are being unfair in their actions and ways of being. They are not really taking each other in as individuals.. more as what they want each other to be or behave.

4. One of the things Cannie loves best about writing the Lyla Dare series is that she does it anonymously. This seems similar to the way many teens today use a screen name for chatting, MySpace, and other Internet activities. Why do you think using a pseudonym is so attractive to some people?

I would guess it is because one can feel more free to express themselves and not have to worry what others think of them.

5. Joy is beautiful, but sees herself as flawed because of her hearing disability. Do you think a girl can be both beautiful and flawed?

I think we are all beautiful and flawed. It is part of being human.

9. Joy is constantly smoothing her hair over her ears to hide her hearing aids, or taking them out all together. What is she really trying to cover up? Is she ultimately successful? Why or why not?

No, she is only catering to her insecurities. Her voice is still different than others... and her mimicking others is only deceiving herself.

I could not get into this book.. reading it felt like work. I just could not connect...

4. One of the things Cannie loves best about writing the Lyla Dare series is that she does it anonymously. This seems similar to the way many teens today use a screen name for chatting, MySpace, and other Internet activities. Why do you think using a pseudonym is so attractive to some people?

we all have a little bit of a super hero in us, the need to have a "secret" identity
A way of expressing thoughts and feelings that we may otherwise not have known we had, or felt we could talk about. Teenagers specially half the time do not know the right way to express their frustations and needs. I know I didn't until recently and I am in my 30's.