The Catholic Book Club discussion

2. Faith is a key theme in the book. It would be fair to say that without faith, Margo would be paralysed, and unable to make the decisions she makes. Even with her strong faith, she often struggles to do what she knows is right. Discuss one of the situations in the book where a character's faith is the motivation behind a decision. Would you have made the same decision? Do you think it was the right decision?

Margaret's short story, the one she enters in the contest, presents a dismantling as a type of sacrifice that parallels that of Jesus's sharing of His body and blood, and the irony of her narrator's submission is something between disturbing and brilliant. Her entry in the contest heightens the tension, as we are not immediately made aware of her ultimate purpose for taking this risk.

John wrote: "2. Faith is a key theme in the book... Discuss one of the situations in the book where a character's faith is the motivation behind a decision. Would you have made the same decision? Do you think it was the right decision?..."

When Margo agrees to feign having coupled with Jon, she must do it, although she abhors it, to save many people lives. In fact she is not sinning, but she risks her reputation. This reminds me this quote by Lois MacMaster Bujold in her novel "A civil campaign": Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself... Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards (:-)