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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Annie's response to finding Rosemary sobbing in Graham's office?

2. Why does Annie rush away from the bookstore, on her walk to the dentist?

3. What is the reason Annie gives for why she is able to so fully forget the disturbing memory from her past?

4. What does Annie do after unpacking from her trip to Vermont in Chapter 17?

5. How does Sarah describe how she felt about her home as a child?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Frieda feel, in the end, about hearing Annie constantly vent about Graham's betrayal?

2. How does Annie's childhood home compare to that of Sofie's?

3. How does Annie's feelings towards Mike's behavior change over time?

4. How does Frieda begin to feel admiration for Jeanne for keeping her out of the spreading of Graham's ashes?

5. What is Graham's argument, as shared by Annie, regarding why people read fiction?

6. How does Annie compare the arrival of Graham's ashes to Annie shutting Graham's office door after Rosemary leaves?

7. How does Frieda believe one can manage in life?

8. Why does Edith feel sorry for her ex-husband, Mike?

9. How do Lucas' feelings towards Claire change at the end of Chapter 26?

10. How does Annie feel as she watches the children scatter Graham's ashes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Sarah and Lucas have similar relationships with their mothers. Describe these relationships. How do these relationships compare to the ones they have with their stepmothers? Why might these relationships be the way they are? What does Sarah realize about both her and Lucas' desires regarding their parents? What role does their father play in these family dynamics?

Essay Topic 2

Both Annie and Frieda long for beauty and loveliness in life. How do they each describe this beauty or loveliness? How have they both found it, at various times in their lives? How have they also both lost it? What struggles have they gone through to keep it?

Essay Topic 3

Both Sarah and Lucas harbor ill feelings and/or resentment towards their mothers. Why do they feel this way? Should the mothers be blamed for how their children feel? Why or why not? Could these relationships be healed? If so, how? If not, why not?

(see the answer keys)

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