Book Club Discussion Question 9: Blessings

[Sara Noel]

9. The narrative structure of Blessings provides a literary framework that is important to the story and to our ability to connect with its characters. Describe the book's narrative structure. What effect did it have on your experience as a reader? Did the time-present/time-past structure of Lydia's story, interwoven with the day-to-day story of life at Blessings, allow her to be a more sympathetic character? How does the narrative structure of the novel parallel, tap into, and connect with some of the book's themes?

[paelthom]

Wow Sara, that's a bit complicated for little old me. Let me give it a try though. I thought the present/past story telling technique worked well. It allowed the story to develop slowly and kept it interesting. You knew that the past and present were being tied together but you only got a tiny bit of the connection at a time. Kept the story interesting and kept me guessing until the end.

[Sara Noel]

I have to admit that I wasn't crazy about the structure of it. I don't mind that it went from present to the past, but it sometimes moved from those times too quickly for my liking and I'd have to backtrack and read it again to be sure I read it right.

I think it definitely helped develop Lydia's character even moreso. As I had said in a previous post, the fact she was near the end of her life made it tie in better and make more sense to me.

One of the best parts in the book for me was when Lydia was talking to Meredith about life and mistakes. I wanted so badly for Lydia to open herself up more to her daughter and it didn't happen. It was very bittersweet. It was one of those missed opportunities and was about the only part in the book that I could personally relate to.

[isaacsmommy]

I agree that the past/present style was a bit difficult to follow in some places. However, it was a very effective way to build Lydia's character and to show how her personal experiences shaped her life today.

[AmyMCGS]

I thought the past/present weaving was really how Lydia was thinking now. Many elderly residents at the nursing home live more in the past than they do in the present, so it seemed fitting to me that the story was told in that manner.