Sorry about the delay in posting the week 2 questions. I've been very under the weather.
The first section of the book led up to Tess and Brian getting together. Chapters 10-18 chronicle their nascent relationship as they not only get to know each other better, but as they come to terms with each others' past. We also learn more about Rachel's troubles as well as New Mills' year-round and summer residents.
Like last week, I've tried to pick out the highlights, which is not an easy task. Feel free to jump in with anything you'd like to discuss that I don't bring up. I'm serious about that.
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* Chapter 10 is strictly about Brian and Tess's first time having sex and chapter 11 deals with the aftermath of that event. I'm aware this is a family forum so I won't go into the nitty gritty. (Hi moderators!! ) I will say that my intention was to show that this was a kind of battle between the two of them to define the nature of their relationship. Tess was still trying to keep things on a physical level, while Brian wanted more. If anyone wants to discuss this in more detail, I'm game. If not, that's cool, too. (On a similar note, if anyone is up for a discussion of the use of sex and language in the book in general, let me know. That's what seems to get the most attention in off-board discussions and reviews, and I'd love to have the opportunity to discuss and/or defend my use of both aspects here.)
* Brian's instinct is to bully Tim out of Rachel's life while Tess thinks she should be left to learn from her mistakes. At this point in the story, which approach do you think was better?
* Nevertheless, Tess later tries to reason with Rachel a little more about her choices. Do you think she should have, or could have, done more?
* The disastrous Fourth Of July gathering highlights not only Tess's painful relationship with her mother, but the dysfunction of the Bellows family in general. What are your thoughts about the family that created Tess?
* Much is made about the class distinction between the summer residents and the year-round locals. Chapter 15 is a study of the haves and have-nots. What are your impressions of both groups? Do you find that this kind of class/money distinctions are common in your area?
* Tess is threatened by Ashley, Brian's ex, yet she feels protective of her as well. Why do you think this is?
* Both Brian's and Tess's past come calling in the form of Brian's father, Rick, and Tess's ex-husband, Jason. What affect did these visits have on their relationship? Did you take the given reasons for these visits at face value, or did you think there was more to it?
The first section of the book led up to Tess and Brian getting together. Chapters 10-18 chronicle their nascent relationship as they not only get to know each other better, but as they come to terms with each others' past. We also learn more about Rachel's troubles as well as New Mills' year-round and summer residents.
Like last week, I've tried to pick out the highlights, which is not an easy task. Feel free to jump in with anything you'd like to discuss that I don't bring up. I'm serious about that.
-------------------
* Chapter 10 is strictly about Brian and Tess's first time having sex and chapter 11 deals with the aftermath of that event. I'm aware this is a family forum so I won't go into the nitty gritty. (Hi moderators!! ) I will say that my intention was to show that this was a kind of battle between the two of them to define the nature of their relationship. Tess was still trying to keep things on a physical level, while Brian wanted more. If anyone wants to discuss this in more detail, I'm game. If not, that's cool, too. (On a similar note, if anyone is up for a discussion of the use of sex and language in the book in general, let me know. That's what seems to get the most attention in off-board discussions and reviews, and I'd love to have the opportunity to discuss and/or defend my use of both aspects here.)
* Brian's instinct is to bully Tim out of Rachel's life while Tess thinks she should be left to learn from her mistakes. At this point in the story, which approach do you think was better?
* Nevertheless, Tess later tries to reason with Rachel a little more about her choices. Do you think she should have, or could have, done more?
* The disastrous Fourth Of July gathering highlights not only Tess's painful relationship with her mother, but the dysfunction of the Bellows family in general. What are your thoughts about the family that created Tess?
* Much is made about the class distinction between the summer residents and the year-round locals. Chapter 15 is a study of the haves and have-nots. What are your impressions of both groups? Do you find that this kind of class/money distinctions are common in your area?
* Tess is threatened by Ashley, Brian's ex, yet she feels protective of her as well. Why do you think this is?
* Both Brian's and Tess's past come calling in the form of Brian's father, Rick, and Tess's ex-husband, Jason. What affect did these visits have on their relationship? Did you take the given reasons for these visits at face value, or did you think there was more to it?