Reader's Ink discussion

Thinking beyong the book, do you think Truly ever pursued a relationship with her sister? Would you have pursued a relationship if put in a similar situation?

Sisters- what a complicated relationship.

I think Truly is the type of person to not let something go. She gets curious about something, and it keeps pestering her until she does something about it. So, I think she will peruse Serena Jane. However, Serena Jane is to self-absorbed to reciprocate any feelings or any effort that Truly makes. So, I imagine that Truly would once again be disappointed by her sister.

Miss Alisha, we once again are thinking almost identically. While I was coming to the end of the book, I actually got thinking about this, and when Amelia and Robert had destroyed all the evidence except that scrap, I got to thinking will they find her, and is that enough evidence for them to find her. Assuming they will, Truly is the one with the greater and bigger heart (pardon the pun). She is the one that has missed out on family and the concept of what family is. My heart aches so much for a little girl that hardly had a father, no sister to speak of, just a couple precious people that have become so important to her.

I wonder if Serena Jane would visit, now that her husband died. I think it will be difficult for Bobbie and Truly to forge ahead on their own, since initially they did not know about the letters and probably hardened their hearts to her.

I watched an interesting movie last night, 'Warrior,' about two brothers who are reconciled after being apart for 20-ish years. They both have a lot of hurt and anger toward each other. Ultimately, they hash it out in a cage fighting arena, which ultimately breaks them down and brings them together. Perhaps Truly and Bobbie would have to lay everything in the open with Serena Jane to start the healing process.

Julie- interesting point you made, about Bobbie and Truly putting everything out on the table for the healing to happen. I agree, that this would be the first step toward healing.

However, my own experience causes me to be quite cynical about what Serena Jane's reaction would be. I still feel that she is too self-absorbed to really get whatever they would say. Either she would blow them off or deny that she really hurt them as much as they say. Which, would probably not actually help the healing process. Either way, it's a catch-22 situation. Bobbie and Truly need to confront Serena Jane in order to move past it. But this will only result in moving past if Serena Has matured and changed enough to be in the right frame of mine to accept what they are saying. And yes, I know I'm probably way cynical- but I don't see her getting there.

Alisha- good point. It's hard to know much about Serena Jane's later life, and probably very likely she would not feel remorse for leaving. Truly also pretty much never talked about her feelings, except to the reader, so she may not have this sudden desire to bring up deep-buried sentiments.

I'm glad you made that point Julie.... One thing I noted during the book, whether Truly was very small or older, I was intrigued by the authors use of her communicating with us the reader. Thought that was interesting for a very young child, probably before she could even talk herself to communicate with us.

I'm gonna say, no, I don't think Truly would pursue a relationship with Serena Jane. Of course, I have zero sisters, so perhaps I'm just plain wrong in assuming that in extreme circumstances (such as Truly and Serena Jane's) that someone like Truly could just keep going forward without seeking out her sister. However, should Serena Jane show up on her doorstep one day, I think Truly would show great grace and accept her and move on.