Monday, March 4, 2013

Charlotte's Rose


Last month's book, Charlotte's Rose, was SOOOO good!  Words cannot express how sad I was to miss the discussion.  This book made me cry.  Anyone else?

Shirley sent a bunch of questions for us to ponder while we read the book.

1) What was your favorite part of Charlotte's journey?
2) Which character in the story did you relate to the most?  Why?  Was there a character that reminded you of someone that you know?
3) Did you learn anything new about the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) from this book?
4) Was there a part of the story that made you feel especially emotional?
5) How would it be not to be able to read or write but to have so much to want to remember and learn about?
6) How important is the setting to the story?  Is A.E. Cannon's description of the landscape/community a good one?  Did the setting of the novel detract or add to your enjoyment of the story?
7) What do you think were some of the common themes of the story?
8) Were there any passages or descriptions that you thought were especially well written, unique or thought provoking?
9) How important was religious faith to this story?

I will just briefly tell you what I thought in response to question #4.  The part of the book that made me most emotional is when Rose's dad came for her and Charlotte gave her up.  I did NOT want her to give him the baby!  After raising my own kids I knew how Charlotte must have been feeling.  I cried and cried--like a baby.  I understand that Rose wasn't her baby, but it made me so sad to think that Charlotte would probably never see Rose again.

Thank you Shirley for a truly enjoyable read.  I couldn't put it down!  I read it in one sitting.

Since I wasn't there to be a part of the discussion, I hope you book clubbers will tell me all about it in the comments.

Look forward to next month's book, (only 2 weeks away folks), Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson at Laura Johnson's house.

5 comments:

  1. I told Shirely I didn't care if it was a library copy, if that baby died I was gonna burn the book! I really thought she was going to for a little bit.

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    1. I thought that for a little while too! Glad it didn't happen that way.

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  2. Kristen, thank you for doing the blog. I said I would do it, and I got behind, with my demanding husband and my seven children, always needing to do this and that. (Hee-hee)

    One of the parts I laughed about in Charlotte's Rose is where Charlotte first sees baby Rose. She looks at her and says she looks like "the Widow Rodgers," because her skin is red and wrinkled. "And what happened to her head>" she squeaks, . . . "It is long and lumpy like a big potato." A big potato covered with black hair.
    ...Sister Bowen, ever practical and Wise, replies, "She was born, Charlotte, that's what happened to her head." And then Sister Bowen continues on with the baby care lessons.

    I just find this whole scene so utterly charming. Here is a young girl who doesn't even know how to hold a baby, and she has taken upon herself to care for one; not just for an hour a day but for every day, all day, on the journey of a lifetime.

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    1. I had forgotten that part, but I do remember chuckling to myself when I read it.

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  3. I really enjoyed the book! Maybe it was because Alyssa was the same age as Rose, but I really identified with Charlotte in some ways! I'm still curious how they actually did diapers and stuff like that on the trail though.

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