Reader's Ink discussion

1) Martha took on a great responsibility raising Linnie's Child.

Do you think Martha was too old to take care of the baby?
What would you have done in her place?

2) Martha received a lot of help from her former students.

What does that say about Martha?
Are there any teachers in your past like Martha?

3) Taking care of Baby Julia brought a lot of new experiences into Martha's life.

Was this good for her?
Were there any changes in Martha?

4) Is there anything Martha said that move you?

I liked Martha, but there were times when I felt she really took huge advantage of people and was a little frustrated by that. She was a little old, but I think the baby brought a fulfillment to her life that she had not had, and that part was nice. She took the words of "hide her" stronger than I might have. Was putting myself in her place, and thought how good of a Mom would I have been, and would I have tried to find Lynnie as the years went on. I think I would have. Lynnie wanted so badly to connect with Julia and with Homan.

1. If I were Martha, I would say she's too old to handle the baby. Whenever my mom spends a lot of time withh my toddler, she reminds me that there's a reason young people have the babies--they are SO MUCH WORK. But hey, lots of grandparents step in and help raise young children, and they deserve medals. Since I've had a baby and newborn and toddler, and I know how much work they are, I can say that if I were in Martha's shoes, it is highly unlikely that I'd take on raising another one.

2. Martha's role as a former teacher speaks a lot to her "mothering," even if she didn't have biological children. It showed that children were important to her and that she fulfilled that instinct in a meaningful way that seems to have deeply affected her students. I've had a few fantastic teachers and professors, but I can't imagine any of them taking on an infant!

3. I thought Martha's transition into motherhood was one of the most implausible aspects of the book. Simon utterly idealized motherhood and omitted how freaking demanding newborns are. I mean, really? After 3 solid weeks of not sleeping for longer than an hour at a time, Martha wouldn't question the wisdom of raising a child? (Heck, I remember wanting to put my newborn back into my uterus for a few more months just to get some quiet and some sleep. And she was MINE!) Unless Julia slept through the night at 2 days old, never spit up, and never confused Martha with her crying, I just didn't buy it.

4. I finished the book awhile ago and don't remember anything in particular that Martha said, but I did get a happy feeling that someebody who had been truly short-changed in the children department was receiving a second chance. Few things in this world thrill me more than hearing about an adoption, pregnancy, or birth for a mom or dad who reaaaaaally wanted and waited for baby, perhaps with a cruel dose of heartbreak along the way. So, that a fuzzy, feel-good plot point that I liked, contrived or not.