Literally Leander discussion

Our featured book for August was Glimpsed by G.F. Miller. There will be spoilers for the novel in this thread!

Our discussion prompts were written by a staff member. Remember, you don't need to use them if you don't want to! Any thoughts or questions you have to pose would be fantastic!

1. Early in the novel, Charity says, “…being a fairy godmother isn’t just about magic. It’s about a deep need to fix things. It’s a calling.” Why do you think Charity describes her magic this way?

2. Think about how Charity’s sister, Hope, describes the “glimpses.” The two sisters seem have differing beliefs of what their abilities mean. Which one do you think is right?

3. Charity dyes her hair often throughout the book. Why do you think she chooses to change her hair color so often? Do you think the colors she picks says anything about her?

4. Discuss Noah’s first meeting with Charity. What kind of person do you think Noah is? Did your perception of him change over the course of the novel?

5. Charity repeatedly says that she just wants her “Cindies” to be happy. How would you describe happiness?

I had some ups and downs with this book. I went in expecting a lot, didn't love the beginning, but was mostly won over by time I got to the end. (I gave it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.)

1. Early in the novel, Charity says, “…being a fairy godmother isn’t just about magic. It’s about a deep need to fix things. It’s a calling.” Why do you think Charity describes her magic this way?
I actually marked this quote while I was reading for my review quote--it seems like it's the basis of Charity's belief in her glimpses and what she does with them. Sometimes, I thought that I had a lot in common with Charity; I too, tend to gravitate towards possible solutions when someone is having a hard time with something. Charity is just more certain that this is what she was meant to do. I guess having the ability makes it seem like it was ordained.

We tend to think "need to fix things" as a statement similar to "need for control, in some way." Perhaps that is the same thing for Charity? She can't control her glimpses, she can't control what she sees, but she can control the how she decides to tackle "the problem."

3. Charity dyes her hair often throughout the book. Why do you think she chooses to change her hair color so often? Do you think the colors she picks says anything about her?
Nowadays, hair color is a form of self expression. While this is the easy answer (at least in my opinion), I also think that Charity uses her hair color as a way to release any stress and tension that might build up as a result of her fairy godmothering. You know how some girls like to make dramatic hairstyle changes when they're emotionally distressed? Maybe Charity is the same way.

4. Discuss Noah’s first meeting with Charity. What kind of person do you think Noah is? Did your perception of him change over the course of the novel?
Okay, I'm really glad this is a question because Noah was the reason I wasn't sure what I would like this book. When I first read this (like a month ago) I had so many things to say and unfortunately I've forgotten most of them. I just know that Noah seemed like a HUGE jerk early on, especially in his first meeting with Charity. I mean, not only is he blackmailing her, but he's just so condescending--convinced that he's the right guy for the girl of his dreams, that the girl doesn't know what she needs, etc. (Toxic, much?)

I'm very glad that he gets a bit of a character arc as well. It was good to see him grow up and be more mature and realize that he did some things wrong, and that he can't choose what's best for another person.

5. Charity repeatedly says that she just wants her “Cindies” to be happy. How would you describe happiness?
Literally the hardest question ever. Happiness is such a vague, abstract thing that it's hard to put a name to it. It's a feeling and a state of mind, it's something that's impossible to put into words.

I think that Charity could very well be her biggest obstacle and critic; she sets high goals (like making people happy) when that's different for everyone, and hard to do, if nigh impossible. But she doesn't initially realize this, and when it turns out that her Cindies aren't as happy as she would have liked them to be, she's utterly devastated.