(Spoiler Alert --- These Questions assume you’ve already read the book)

1. What would you say are the significant themes in this novel?

2. Gerard Warner, Michael’s grandfather, felt he had to hide the story of how he and their grandmother met, not just from the public but even from his family. Now that you know why, what do you think of his reasons? Did you agree? Could you see another way he might have handled this?

3. Michael’s grandfather titled the unpublished manuscript Michael had found, “An Impossible Love.” Now that you know the real story, what do you think of his choice for a title?

4. Michael didn’t put the puzzle pieces together (that he was reading a memoir, not a novel) until almost the end. What do you think kept him from seeing it sooner? At what point did you figure out what was really going on?

5. Telling the truth vs lying comes up in a major way in this book. Do you think there is ever a time when lying is necessary, say to protect someone from danger or to keep someone from getting hurt?

6. If you were put in Ben’s shoes---considering the times and the situation he was in---how would you have handled it?

7. Think about the choices Clair’s parents were faced with when they realized the truth about Ben. Would you (could you) have done what they did?

8. Did you have a favorite scene in the book? How did you respond to it and what made it your favorite?

9. Who was your favorite character in the book and why?

10. Think for a moment how the novel ends. How do you think the rest of the family will react once Michael gives them copies of his grandfather’s book and tells them the real story behind it? How do you think his sister, Marilyn, will react?

11. The author, Dan Walsh, welcomes any questions or feedback. You can contact him at [email protected].