Book Club for Introverts discussion

Let's discuss!

Chapter 5:
Diomedes, I think wants Theo to succeed for 2 reasons; he wants to help Alicia but more importantly, he wants to keep the Grove open. What is up with Christian? Why is he so against trying to make progress with Alicia?

Chapter 6:

I KNEW there was something up with Kathy!!! It will be interesting to see how Theo handles her betrayal.

Chapter 7:

Theo broke through with Alicia but I still think he’s got it wrong. He was trying to relate to her by sharing that he sometimes hates his wife. She became angry either because he was getting too close to the truth or because he was too far off. Perhaps this quote supports my theory “But that’s what Alicia did for you. Her silence was like a mirror—reflecting yourself back at you. And it was often an ugly sight.”

Chapter 8
It’s amazing how fast Theo falls apart. When something you thought was steady and constant is suddenly exposed as something else, it’s easy to lose your mooring. He considers not even thinking about it “I was avoiding her—avoiding my-self. I knew I had to take a look at myself—or risk losing myself.” He soon spiraled out of control and had thoughts of worthlessness. I can absolutely relate. I recently was laid off from a job that I absolutely loved. To be told that you are no longer needed when you thought you were an integral part of the fabric of the company makes you question your worth. Theo searches for someone to reach out to and considers his mother— how sad that he concluded “How can one drowning rat save another?”

Chapter 9:

Ruth is awesome! She wasn’t at all what I expected in a therapist, but maybe it’s because she was talking to him as a friend. I love that she showed him that what he was feeling wasn’t just bout Kathy, it was about his father too. He realizes that he chose Kathy (someone who will never love him) to prove his father right; he is worthless and unloveable. “Love that doesn’t include honesty doesn’t deserve to be called love.”

Chapter 10:

I can’t believe he didn’t leave her, confront her, something. I fear he’s beyond hope.

Theo is turning out to be just as big of a mess as Alicia; he just hasn't killed anyone. He's in over his head.

I also really like Ruth and I hope that Theo takes her advice, as a friend, to heart.

Theo irritates me at times but I also have a soft spot for him. Having dealt with infidelity in my first marriage, I know all too well how fast betrayal can unravel a person. I also understand him wanting to hang on to Kathy - especially with his past.

I had a suspicion from the start that Theo might not be the most reliable of narrators. He's so messed up himself that it's going to be very difficult for him to effectively deal with Alicia, I'm afraid. This could be one hot mess.

Oh Ruth....LOVE her. I loved when she said, "We often mistake love for fireworks -- for drama and dysfunction. But real love is very quiet, very still. It's boring, if seen from the perspective of high drama. Love is deep and calm -- and constant." I admire her honesty with him, and I hope he can turn his trainwreck of emotions around soon because I'm really rooting for him.

I love Ruth and the things she said about love. As a therapist, I aspire to be a Ruth. I feel the same way about this marriage needing to end, yet it looks like it won’t, at least not yet. Stuffing information and feelings about the affair is going to lead to more anxiety and self-medication.

Deborah wrote: "I love Ruth and the things she said about love. As a therapist, I aspire to be a Ruth. I feel the same way about this marriage needing to end, yet it looks like it won’t, at least not yet. Stuffing..."

Ruth reminds me of my own therapist. I wish she had a larger role in the book - it doesn't seem like Theo should have stopped seeing her. ;)