Bookclub Information
Thank you so much for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed it.
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Comments:
I had two goals in writing the book. The first was to see if I could complete and publish a work of fiction. The second was to reclaim the life of my real great-great aunt. It is likely that the real Marit spent her life in an institution, died, and is buried in an unknown grave. I didn't want that to be her legacy, so I gave her a new life in this novel and while it wasn't an easy one, she prevailed.
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It is also important to know that while I included many accurate historical facts in this book, The Blue Trunk is a work of fiction. Most of it is fabrication. For instance, John Dillinger did not, to my knowledge, have a body guard. Blake Jackson is not based upon any real Arizona politician. The historical notes at the end of the book give information on what is real and what is fiction. When in doubt, assume it came from the mind of a "daydreamer" (the complaint of my first grade teacher, Miss Pederson).
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Finally, I'm not a professional genealogist. Some have commented that I didn't do enough research to find the real Marit . This is true. Telling her story was never my goal because, as I have noted, her life was likely spent in an asylum and that wasn't the book I wanted to write. ​What I did want to write was a book about two women who, when faced with challenges and struggles, confronted their demons and became even stronger.
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Starter Questions
Since some of the most interesting questions for the book might provide for a spoiler for readers, I've included a few starter questions below. hope they provoke a lively conversation for you as you explore The Blue Trunk. If your group has a lively discussion about a question that you would like for me to include on this page, feel free to message me at aelowry55@gmail.com.
Question 1
A book that travels between two time periods can be hard to read. How did you find the back and forth between the two stories? How did (or did not) the writer differentiate between the two narratives?
Question 2
Who was your favorite character and why?
Question 3
Reviewers have noted the sharp social commentary in the book. Why do you think the author included this? Did you like it or find it distracting?
Question 4
Lowry plays with gender fluidity in the book. Did you appreciate that or was it difficult?
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