1. Discuss Mary as a caretaker. What are her motives in caring for Anne? Is she handling the inherent stress of that role in a healthy way? In serving Anne, is she serving Christ?

2. The point of view shifts in chapter 3. Is your response to Kathleen sympathetic or critical? Does she make the only choices possible considering her circumstances, or does she have other options?

3. Who is to blame for young Mary’s predicament, which reaches a climax in chapter 5?

4. Anne is a complex character. What are some of her positive qualities? What are some of her negative characteristics?

5. How does the setting of the book discussion group meeting serve as a back-drop for the rest of the story?

6. What are Sally’s motives for listening to Mary’s entire life story? Do you have a friend who is willing to listen to your life story without passing judgment or giving you advice? With how many people could you share your entire story?

7. Michael and Paul both provide romantic interests in the novel. Cite differences and similarities between the two men.

8. At what point in the novel do you recognize signs of Mary’s illness?

9. Folk, geological, biological, and geographical elements of Mary’s native Ireland are interwoven in the story. In what way do these elements have an impact on Mary’s life? Have you ever both loved and hated a place?

10. How does Mary’s return to Ireland serve as a quest device?

11. Does the kaleidoscope metaphor fit any aspect of your life? How has God used your brokenness to create something beautiful? How can you see a pattern developing out of seemingly unrelated events? Apply the scriptural foundation of Romans 8:28 to this text and to your own story.

12. How is An Irishwoman’s Tale different from what you might expect of Christian fiction? In what ways is it similar to what you would expect?