Discuss FNKC as a Whole: Lucie's Decisions

[BookClubEditor]

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

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Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

[LizzieAnn]

Lucie made the best choice for herself, so who could argue with that. I think that Georgia & Dakota had some effect on her, as it showed her that a single mother could raise a child and do it well. That must have given her some comfort. However, I think she chose the way she did because it was what she wanted...she wanted a child to love and care for.

[cseelman]

Lucie's baby's birth and Georgia's death occur almost at the same time. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's take on that...

[LizzieAnn]

As one life ends....another begins. Or perhaps, reincarnation of Georgia's spirit into a new life?

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cseelman wrote:
Lucie's baby's birth and Georgia's death occur almost at the same time. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's take on that...

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[ukduchess]

I don't agree with Lucie's method of finding a father for her baby but I can see how she was at a point in her life where she didn't see many options. It can be hard watching the rest of the world have the things that you want and feeling like you will never achieve that. I think the fact that the birth and death coincided are simply a way of showing that (as cliche as it may sound) life goes on. The characters were all sad at Georgia's death but good things did not stop happening because of her death. Happy events like the birth of a baby still happen even when we feel like our world has stopped.

[kiakar]

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cseelman wrote:
Lucie's baby's birth and Georgia's death occur almost at the same time. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's take on that...

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Life happens and goes on regardless of when death befalls us. Death happens after life and continues to go on as a continous cycle. Same as tears,hurt,joy,love,faith,hope and all the other words to describe our desire for life and our trying to understand death.

[katejacobs]

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ukduchess wrote:
I don't agree with Lucie's method of finding a father for her baby but I can see how she was at a point in her life where she didn't see many options. It can be hard watching the rest of the world have the things that you want and feeling like you will never achieve that. I think the fact that the birth and death coincided are simply a way of showing that (as cliche as it may sound) life goes on. The characters were all sad at Georgia's death but good things did not stop happening because of her death. Happy events like the birth of a baby still happen even when we feel like our world has stopped.

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Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to reflect: that good continues even when the sad occurs. Life is full circle.

p.s. my mother also disapproved of Lucie's methods!!

[katejacobs]

You know, I wanted to share another thought: I love all the characters dearly but some of them do make questionable choices. James's behavior in the past, for example. Or Darwin and her indiscretion. Part of what draws me to these characters is precisely because they are flawed. As we all are. One of the themes of the book is really about the hope in -- the attempt for -- second chances. So, in some cases, the characters are looking to repair old hurts. In other places, the character may not be looking to do anything different and feel the choices that they have made are the right ones for them. As a writer, I did my best to try not to judge my characters, but to follow the story as it flowed.

Yet I also know that several readers (such as my mom!) found Lucie's choices questionable. Let's talk more about why some of you felt that way: Is it because she cut out the father (by virtue of not telling him)? Simply her decision to be a single mother by choice? Or something else?

Hearing from readers is great fun and I am always eager to learn your thoughts. Tell me more!

[cseelman]

Can we go back to Darwin for a moment and her indiscretion? I so identify with her. Her "one night stand" was something that happened so quickly and because of the drinking, her real self was not able to participate in the decision making. But in the blaring light of day--there were her actions staring her in the face (or on the couch beside her).

How many times have we done something that is wrong--but we really didn't understand the "wrongness" of it at the time. And only later when we saw the impact on the person or persons affected do we feel that heart-wrenching grief. That wanting to turn back the clock and do it differently. And our true selves may not have been present when we acted due to any number of things; we weren't taught the right actions, we want so badly to belong that it clouds our judgment...

And Darwin's act is in such contrast to Lucie's. Lucie had more time to think about what she was doing. So, I look at Lucie using a different "filter" than I use for Darwin.

Life can be very complicated!

[kiakar]

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia
and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

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I think LUcie most wanted a connection to her life. To make it seem worthwhile to have lived. Someone to belong to and to be in someone's else thoughts as being very important. She felt this would make her fulfilled.

[kiakar]

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cseelman wrote:
Lucie's baby's birth and Georgia's death occur almost at the same time. I'd be interested in hearing everyone's take on that...

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So goes life; One lives and one has to die at the end of that life. And we know not when that will come.

[cseelman]

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kiakar wrote:

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia
and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

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I think LUcie most wanted a connection to her life. To make it seem worthwhile to have lived. Someone to belong to and to be in someone's else thoughts as being very important. She felt this would make her fulfilled.

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Well said - isn't that what we are all searching for!!

[katejacobs]

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cseelman wrote:

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kiakar wrote:

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia
and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

---

I think LUcie most wanted a connection to her life. To make it seem worthwhile to have lived. Someone to belong to and to be in someone's else thoughts as being very important. She felt this would make her fulfilled.

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Well said - isn't that what we are all searching for!!

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Great insight into Lucie. She does believe motherhood will complete her. And I love this comment about being "in someone else's thoughts as being very important." Yes!

This topic of connection is a good one; all of the characters have this sense of loneliness and this tremendous desire for community. It's just harder for some to articulate.

[kiakar]

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cseelman wrote:

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kiakar wrote:

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia
and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

---

I think LUcie most wanted a connection to her life. To make it seem worthwhile to have lived. Someone to belong to and to be in someone's else thoughts as being very important. She felt this would make her fulfilled.

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Well said - isn't that what we are all searching for!!

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Yes, carol, you are right! This is a goal of most; And I hope we all find it the way Lucie did.

[cseelman]

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kiakar wrote:

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cseelman wrote:

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kiakar wrote:

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BookClubEditor wrote:

Do you approve or disapprove of Lucie's reproductive decisions? Compare Lucie's life with Georgia's. Do you think her relationship with Georgia
and Dakota influenced her decision at all?

---

Reply to this message to discuss any of these topics. Or start your own new topic by clicking "New Message."

Note: This topic refers to the book as a whole.

---

I think LUcie most wanted a connection to her life. To make it seem worthwhile to have lived. Someone to belong to and to be in someone's else thoughts as being very important. She felt this would make her fulfilled.

---

Well said - isn't that what we are all searching for!!

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Yes, carol, you are right! This is a goal of most; And I hope we all find it the way Lucie did.

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I hope that for all of us as well. Lucie's decision took a lot of courage! I think it speaks volumes about the courage of women. We're the glue that holds society together - yes?