| 1. |
Memory plays a central part in
everyone’s life but, as Hemingway said,
memory, of course, is never true. How
do her memories of her “perfect”
childhood affect Josie’s life at the beginning
of the book? How does the realization that her
memories may not be true change her life as
the book progresses? How does she deal with
this change? |
| 2. |
Josie and Gray are both only children.
Does this color the way they see the world?
Their parents? Other people? If so, how does
this change things for them? Are they conscious
of the way the lack of siblings affects their
world? Do Gray and Josie deal with this aspect
of their lives differently and, if so, how? |
| 3. |
Josie believes in luck, both good
and bad. She believes that one small thing –
a terrible haircut – has changed her luck
from good to bad. How can one small thing change
her life? Is it her belief that triggers the
change? How much of what happens to Josie after
her haircut is caused by her belief in bad luck? |
| 4. |
The Sunshine Coast News
is a novel about our need for community, and
particularly about the discovery of community
by both Josie and Gray. Is their need for community
a response to growing older? To moving to a
smaller town? Is it in some way forced upon
them by their neighbors and friends? How do
they react to their inclusion in this much larger
community? Is it positive or negative? Does
their reaction change? |
| 5. |
Josie believes she has the right
and the obligation to fix her parents’
lives and that they have ruined her life by
splitting up. She races off to rescue them,
believing that all she has to do is show up
and they will immediately change their plans.
How do her parents deal with Josie’s arrival?
How does she deal with learning that she has
no power to change their lives? |
