1. A Silent Ocean Away opens with a solitary man immersed in despair. Who is this man? What has led him to such despair? For what is he praying? 

2. Charmaine travels to the Caribbean and Charmantes in pursuit of a new and happier life. Has she successfully escaped her past? Why or why not?

3. Great stories emerge from conflict. Likewise, the more complex a story, the more difficult it becomes to differentiate between virtue and evil (the good and the bad). Into which category do the following characters fall? Charmaine? Paul? George? Colette? Frederic? Agatha? John?

4. Foreshadow is a powerful literary tool. In the beginning of Chapter 6, Pierre recounts his dream of meeting his mother in heaven. How is this dream foreshadow? Can you locate other passages of foreshadow?

5. Symbolism is an equally powerful literary tool. On the night John returns home, the storm is symbolic. How do the thunder and lightning mimic and personify John and Paul? Can you find other elements of symbolism?

6. Reviewers have called A Silent Ocean Away a gothic tale in line with Jane Eyre. Do you agree? Which aspects of the story might be considered gothic?

7. Each character introduced in A Silent Ocean Away is complex, credible, and imperfect. Do flawed characters make for a better story? Why or why not? Which character(s) have you found most interesting? Why is that?

8. The open-endedness of A Silent Ocean Away leaves the reader guessing. Even so, there are many clues cueing the reader in to what will happen in Book 2 --- Decision and Destiny. Predict or comment on the following:
          Charmaine’s future
          Paul’s affections
          John’s anger
          Agatha’s desires
          Frederic’s motives