2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

The issue between Gus and Roman was always his idea that the woman who would be his wife should be someone like Joy, a complete opposite of Gus. This was borne out of his view of his parents’ relationship. Even though his actions were always consistent with that notion, was he as deeply in love with Gus all along or did his feelings evolve? Your thoughts about their relationship, then and now? Did your opinion of Roman change from what it was at the beginning of the story? Same for Gus?

If Gus hadn't lost the baby and she and Roman were married at that time, I think they may have divorced because their relationship would have turned out much like his parents. I believe that Roman loved Gus all along, but in the beginning, he was not ready to accept what he felt as love, especially with the example of his parents always on his mind. He also may have ended up resenting Gus because his relationship with her would have prevented him from finding the ideal political marriage that he thought he wanted.

I think he loved Gus all along. However, instead of looking at his feelings for Gus, he looked at his parents "fighting" and compared that relationship to his disagreements with Gus. He sees his parents' arguments negatively and didn't want that for himself. My guess, since his parents are still together, what Roman considered a hostile home environment, his parents see as healthy disagreements.

I know families who express their opinions loudly, but no one could ever say the house isn't full of love and support.

What Roman and Gus had were professional disagreements or different ways of looking at a problem, in my opinion. I didn't consider them arguments per se. Roman decided a "yes sir Susie Homemaker" was the type of woman he needed. He couldn't see that would be a miserable life for him. Roman likes the stimulation of a good debate.

Now, thirteen years later, Roman is more mature and can look at Gus for who she is. A strong independent woman who is better for him than a Stepford wife. He also sees that he can love her, disagree with her, talk through their differences, and have everything he wants in life.

Like both of you, I believe Roman loved Gus all along. His warped ideas about the “perfect” wife got in the way of him seeing that Gus was it thirteen years ago.

I’m unclear why his parents relationship was so painful to him. Maybe their loud disagreements created anxiety about the possibility of them splitting up. It’s a shame they didn’t recognize the impact it had on him.

I’m not sure they would have divorced if they’d married but I think Roman would have struggled. Gus never would have lived up to his expectations of a wife. With his thoughts about a traditional wife, I expect they would have butted heads regarding child care.

I like that they reconnected at this point in their lives. Gus is more mature and confident in who she is, whether Roman accepts her or not. Roman has also grown up and got to see firsthand what a bland marriage actually looks like (Zack & Joy). He now sees Gus as a partner and a possibility.

I agree with all of you. Roman felt sure that since his parents argued so much, they weren't in a loving marriage. I think he felt that being with Gus would have sent him on the same path. I do think he loved her but didn't want to. He believed he needed a bland relationship. Now, he realizes that he and Gus love each other. I don't know if they would have divorced if they were together earlier but I think he realizes now that he and Gus will be great together.

I think Roman loved Gus all along, but his view of his parents marriage sacred him. He and Gus would not have had the same kind of relationship Roman's parents had, but Roman was too terrified to try and find out what kind of relationship they would have had.

I also think that Roman loved Gus all along but he was immature and still allowing his parents' intense relationship to affect his perceptions of both himself and Gus.

As for Roman's parents, I find it interesting that of all the PG parents, they are the only ones still married in an apparently happy, stable and passionate marriage. I think Roman's negative perception of their relationship may have been influenced by youthful embarrassment at parents who couldn't keep their hands off each other.

That’s an interesting point about his parents being the only ones still happily together.