Signs for Lost Children by Sarah Moss

Please join us in August as we discuss Signs for Lost Children by Sarah Moss.  I am about halfway through and want to extend a special invitation to all of the psychologists and medical people on this email -- and to anyone who might have an interest in medical history or, in addition, Japanese culture.  Would love to hear your thoughts about these subjects!





Discussion questions:

1. What does the title mean?
2. What do you think of the vacillating perspectives?  What works?  What doesn't work?
3. Does Ally's or Tom's narrative grab you more?
4. What do you make of the pace of the novel and her use of time and choice to exclude scenes and omit others (like omitting Ally and Tom's initial reunion)?
5. What role does Mr. De Rivers play?
6. What is Ally's role in advancing women's rights?  What of her attitude towards female writers of the time (like Gaskell and Austen)?
7. Does the style of the book stand?  Could this have been published in Victorian England or would it have been ahead of its time?
8. What do you make of Ally's "madness"?
9. What do you make of Tom's affair?  Is he human or devil?
10. What do you make of the final blend of cultures?  Believable or contrived?

Follow-up:

Hello ladies,

Thanks to everyone for coming out for a vibrant discussion of Signs for Lost Children by Sarah Moss.  Those of you who hadn't finished were intrigued enough to say you would now finish the book (either that or you were being polite).  All in all, a fine literary achievement, Ms. Moss, even if a lot of it was over our heads.

For September we're going to shift gears and try our first non-fiction selection.  Waking up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving looks to be a thought-provoking though perhaps faster read considering it's near essay-like format with discussion questions at the end of each short chapter.  Please join us as we dip our toes (or perhaps jump wholeheartedly) into a discussion of race.

See you there!

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