2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

There seems to be a lot of tension between Patrick and his father Christian. What do you suppose is driving that?

I had no idea what to problem could be, but with Trinity telling Josie she really didn't know her, I thought that maybe we don't really know this family like we thought we did.

I thought it had to do with the way his father treated him. He was "just a kid" and didn't deserve to be close to Trinity. Of course there is still a lot we don't know.

I was, frankly, shocked by the interactions between Christian and Patrick. Christian came off as a guy I didn't know, not at all the man I thought he was.

I agree, but I feel it is thrown in there so Josie can see no family is perfect but we love them anyway. Moral of the story so to speak.

You are right, Sharon. No family is perfect; they all have their flaws and terse interactions from time to time. At first all Josie and the readers saw was a wonderful family with no imperfections. Life and people aren't that way.

I did not think the interaction or lack thereof between Christian and Patrick belonged in this story but after what your guys have wrote you are correct that no family is perfect.

Like Anita, I was completely thrown, not knowing this version of Christian. Sharon, that’s a great point about no family being perfect. There’s no way this family could have been the ideal image we’ve seen to this point. They had a child stolen. All the dynamics would have changed and been weird. Christian’s reactions to Patrick had nothing to do with the son…he’s possibly lost another child again and he’s right back to when Josie was lost. Patrick wasn’t there…he’s outside the circle.

My two bits of psychology.

Good bit of psychology Jonetta.