Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Here is a place to discuss the characters! Favorite, least favorite, etc.

I am disturbed by the relationship between Mabel and her husband so far (10%). Being in that tough environment and so isolated would require strength together to survive. I have lots of questions and wonderings that make me want to read on.

This book spanned quite a bit of time and I was surprised that Jack and Mabel made it through the test of time. Their relationship was so cold in the beginning, but throughout the story you could tell that they had a deep love. I was holding my breath (view spoiler)[throughout the relationship of Faina and Garrett. I had a scary bad feeling and it ended SO sad. Dang, that was so sad. I think it would have been less sad if she had died, but she was just gone. Where do you think she went? Did she die? Did she melt? Did she??? (hide spoiler)] What a great book though!

I think the author did a very good job of describing how grief can isolate us from the ones we love. Mabel and Jack each had to grieve not only the child they lost, but also their feeling of failure as a man/woman. Then Faina shows up. While they are figuring out how to love this little girl, it seems they finally figure out how to love each other again. This was a really beautiful story.

I think that there was some great characterization. Penny and Vicki - you hit the nail on the head with Jack and Mabel. I could feel their pain. I could feel how hard they were trying. I was immediately drawn into their sorrow and, with how they were at the beginning of the book, I did not think I would end up liking them. But, they were doing the best that they could with what they had.

While it was maybe sort of explained, I was still kind of confused as to why they stuck with living in the wilderness to the point of misery, starvation, and suicidal contemplation. I think I would have turned around and headed home long before it got that far.