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About the Dear Missing Friend by Susan McGuirk category
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0
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12
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August 12, 2026
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Do you think the characters have expectations for their lives that are in line with their circumstances? Which ones expected too much or settled for too little?
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2
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15
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October 3, 2026
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Do you think Cath had regrets? If given the chance to start over, do you believe she would have made different choices?
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6
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31
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October 3, 2026
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Was Patrick’s wife justified in her jealousy? How do you think Patrick and Catherine’s relationship could have differed in the 21st century? Must best friends of the opposite sex lead to misgivings/jealousy by partners?
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5
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33
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October 3, 2026
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Overall, what did you think of Dear Missing Friend? (No spoilers in this topic, please!)
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8
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54
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October 3, 2026
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Soon after Michael and Cath are married, he goes to California. Cath accuses him of breaching their vows, while Michael feels it’s necessary. Do you believe that he’s not living up to his promises by leaving? Do you think his departure was necessary?
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7
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35
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October 3, 2026
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As far back as 1845, Patrick asks Cath to accompany him on his journeys. How do you think the story would have played out if she’d said yes to him before she met Michael? How about if she’d agreed after she was married?
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5
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28
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October 3, 2026
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Losing family members of all ages was common in the mid-1800s. Did the characters move past loss differently than we do today?
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3
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18
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October 3, 2026
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Did you learn anything new from Dear Missing Friend? What surprised you? Are there any scenes that stood out?
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5
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32
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October 3, 2026
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Did the fact that the story was based on real people make a difference to the way you read or received the book? What did you think about the author’s notes at the end of the book?
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5
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31
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October 2, 2026
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Cath asks to travel with Michael to California, but he refuses to consider it. Do you think he’s correct to forbid her to join him?
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5
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31
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October 2, 2026
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After Michael leaves, Cath cuts him off and doesn’t exchange letters with him again for decades even when he tries to find her. What did you think of this? Was she right to move on, or should she have reconciled with him?
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6
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35
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October 2, 2026
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Is there a character you would befriend and why?
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5
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36
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October 2, 2026
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Do feel letter writing plays a comparable role in the book to emails and texts today? Why or why not? Do you write letters to others?
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4
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27
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October 1, 2026
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How did needing, seeking, and finding employment steer individual lives in the book? In what ways is this different today, if at all?
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2
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16
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October 1, 2026
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What role did books play in the characters' lives? Who do you think was affected by them and in what way?
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1
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13
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October 1, 2026
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Sisterhood is a theme in the book even though most of the women characters do not have sisters. Can the experience be duplicated in a friendship or as an in-law through marriage? Have you had a similar experience in your own life?
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1
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11
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October 1, 2026
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When did Cath ask for permission and when did she not?
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1
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15
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October 1, 2026
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What might Cath have done had she lived past the age of 46?
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1
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14
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October 1, 2026
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Why do you suppose Cath’s brothers are so insistent that she return to Bridgehampton? What did you make of Tor’s, Frank’s, and Johnny’s characters, and their relationship with their sister?
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1
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15
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October 1, 2026
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What was your opinion of the Walt Whitman verses that separated the chapters? Why do you suppose the author included these?
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1
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17
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October 1, 2026
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What audience would you recommend Dear Missing Friend to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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1
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13
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October 1, 2026
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