2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Owen’s anger fuels his decision to join up with Tom McDonald and seems to cloud his judgment. Your thoughts about his complicity with the things he did know about?

I think he misplaced his partially understood anger, given his background, but that could not have been a good reason to join Tom McDonald. Fortunately, he began to use his powers of observation.

Owen is trying to find a way to deal with the death of his brother. He is using his sister as an outlet for his anger and guilt. Mercy is a federal agent, it stands to reason that he will hook up with an extreme anti-government group to fan his anger a little more.

The thing I struggled with in his decision was this being a militia group. Their father despised these type groups so Owen’s decision to align with them went afoul of his father. I don’t think he told Kirk that he’d joined them.

I understood his guilt, I got his misdirected anger at Mercy. But this spoke to character and I felt he lacked a lot in this story. He’s in a hole that’s hard for him to dig out of with me.

Jonetta wrote: "The thing I struggled with in his decision was this being a militia group. Their father despised these type groups so Owen’s decision to align with them went afoul of his father. I don’t think he t..."

I understand what you are saying about his character, but sometimes people do things out of character when they are grieving. I see him as redeemable especially by the end.

Tom didn't allow Owen to see his true mission. It seemed like Owen was shocked when he saw Tom as a dictator.

I agree Sharon. Owen is grieving and blaming Levi's death on Mercy. She's a federal agent and he sees them at as the enemy at the moment. I can see him hooking up with an anti-government group, even though his father doesn't like this type of group.

Jonetta wrote: "Owen’s anger fuels his decision to join up with Tom McDonald and seems to cloud his judgment. Your thoughts about his complicity with the things he did know about?"

I was surprised he willingly went to join a militia as well. Since his upbringing should have programed him to see it for what it was and not go with it. Of course the death of Levi probably did a number on his mental status even though it was turning that anger onto Mercy. There was still enough hate for himself.