The Catholic Book Club discussion

5. Did you find the ending satisfying?

Yes, after all the terrible chapters, from the Dionysus party till the end of the darkness, the ending is such a relief and so uplifting.

I agree with Mariangel that the ending is uplifting. At first glance, it struck me as a little too cute and perfect -- but then I realized, "This is what the world would be like without all the evil -- beautiful and harmonious, people helping each other, cooperating, moving past their shortcomings and past bad choices." We are so deeply conditioned to expect bad things in ourselves, other people, our environment, etc., that the thought of a world without these shortcomings seems "unrealistic." And yet that is exactly what the Kingdom of God will be like -- yet the Realest of all realities. So I think the author did a good job of suggesting that reality that (God willing) we all someday will experience.