Want to know what’s extra special? When people tell me they’re reading about Wren Island with a friend or loved one. This handy discussion guide for Far From Unremarkable: A Wren Island Novel can be a launch point for fun and meaningful conversations.
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Whether you’re pondering quietly in your own head, chatting with a friend, or engaging in lively discussion with a book club, may these questions about the stories and characters you encountered in Far from Unremarkable be launching points for endless inspiration.
- Wallace cares deeply about his daughters but has difficulty communicating his feelings in words. In what ways does Wallace express his affection and concern?
- Wallace considers the situations of critters other people may not notice or think about. Why do you think Wallace cares so much about critters? Have you ever known someone like this?
- In a dream, Wallace panics about losing someone. Describe a dream you experienced that seemed to hold special meaning for you.
- Amelia indicates she’s felt mostly invisible for most of her life. In what ways do you identify with that feeling?
- Have you ever wished, like Amelia, you could wave a magic wand and watch a team of people do everything you asked? In what ways might imagining this be helpful? In what ways might it not be?
- Wallace tells Amelia, “When you stop feeling sorry for yourself, the rest of the world will too.” Do you agree? Why or why not?
- Frank remembers people suggesting he turned to drugs in the past because he was “trying to fill the emptiness inside.” In recovery, he waffles between giving attention to that emptiness and ignoring it. In what way can you identify with his experience?
- An unexpected conversation in a convenience store leads to Frank receiving a gift that can significantly alter his future prospects. Describe a time when someone’s generosity changed your life, even in a small way.
- The relationship between Virgil and Allison gets bumpy, partly because neither of them is entirely forthcoming with the other. When is it appropriate to keep a secret from someone you love?
- Amelia doesn’t think tourists will understand that Wren is “a grieving island.” She also says she’s “missing memories that would never be made.” In what way can you identify with her thought or feeling?
- When alone, Amelia sometimes realizes new ways of thinking about the world. Do you think she could experience the same revelations while in conversation with other people? Why or why not?
- Amelia discovers something new in a letter she received from her fiancé decades earlier. Have you experienced discovering something significant you did not know about a past event or circumstance? How did the discovery change or impact your life?
- Amelia confronts Wallace about their shared past while still processing her own emotions. In what ways does her talk with Wallace prove helpful? Do you think she would have benefited from waiting longer to talk with him? Or from saying something to him sooner? Why or why not?
- According to Wallace, a man with his background “will never experience peace.” What does this say about how Wallace sees himself? What would you say to Wallace in response?
- Both Wallace and Amelia are hit with grief at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. Have you experienced unexpected bouts of grief? If so, what advice would you offer for dealing with them?
- While walking on the beach, Amelia finds pieces of plastic and repurposes them into a mosaic. What ideas do you have for turning trash into treasure?
- Boss lady Amelia attempts to establish boundaries regarding relationships with friends who are also employees. In what ways are her efforts helpful? In what ways do her efforts cause difficulty?
- Virgil and Allison decide to create a family in their own way, yet their experiences from past relationships continue to influence their expectations of each other. What advice would you give them?
- Where do you think the relationship between Amelia and Wallace will go from here? What do you want to see happen in their relationship?
- If you were keeping a list, like Amelia’s, of nice things that happened unexpectedly, what is one thing that would be on your list?
Thanks for caring about what happens on Wren Island!