1. There are many departures and arrivals at different points in THE BLESSINGS, both literal (like Abby leaving to go back to college) and metaphorical (the deaths of two family members). The Blessing family creates rituals around all of them --- does your family do the same? Why or why not? Do you think it’s more important to recognize happy occasions and events or sad ones?

2. Do you come from a big family or a small one? Which characters in the book do you identify with the most? 

3. Food is not just a means of sustenance in the novel; it can also be a gift, an obligation, and a means of coming together. In Meghan’s case, it is part of her illness. What do you think that the author is trying to express about families and food? 

4. In “Her Last Great Act,” Helen feels awkward about becoming part of Meghan’s social studies project. Do we risk marginalizing the older generations as we try to honor them?

5. The chapter “Happy Face, Sad Face” deals with a couple who come from two very different kinds of families. Do you think that Alex and Rebecca’s relationship was doomed to fail? What common threads might have made the difference? 

6. In “Two Houses,” Patrick experiences a moment on the beach that brings back his childhood in ways that are both comforting and difficult. Have you ever had a similar experience? Does the ocean evoke nostalgia in you?  

7. When Elena’s art show reunites the Blessings, many of their lives have taken surprising trajectories. What surprised you the most about where the characters are at the end of the novel? What do you think is next for them?