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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 does Katie do on her train ride home?

2. What does Matt make for the baby?

3. Who is Suzanne riding in Matt's imagination as he and Nicky are chasing after her?

4. What does Katie tell Lynn and Phil?

5. What does Merlin do as Katie finishes the diary and cries?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Suzanne learn from her cardiologist on a check up?

2. What does Matt think about as he sits in Nicky's nursery?

3. What had Matt's friends and coworkers done while Matt and Suzanne were gone from the house for three days?

4. What does Katie do one night for her friends the Browns?

5. What questions does Katie ask as she is reading the diary?

6. Why does Katie go to the Vineyard and what does she think about on the way there?

7. What happens when Katie sees Matt outside her office?

8. Describe the locket Matt gives Suzanne.

9. What does Nicky wear to his baptism and how does he act during his baptism?

10. What is Katie learning from Suzanne's diary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Suzanne is looking for magic. She makes a deal with Nicky on the way home from Boston that for every smile he gives her she will live another year. For a doctor, she falls into magical thinking quickly. After the heart attack that she had at the beginning of the book, one would think that she would live in reality. Perhaps even with scientific knowledge that she could share with a patient, she can't really believe it for herself.

Women understand the desire for a child. Some women can't accept themselves as women unless they have children. While there is a part of every woman who understands Suzanne's desire for another child, it is accepted as a heart string puller because Patterson has been keeping emotion high. If one stops and looks at this situation, this is a very stupid move for a doctor who understands the score.

1. Why do you think even a well educated person might resort to magical thinking, such as what Suzanne is doing on the way home from Boston? Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think all women can understand the desire for a child? Why or why not? Do you think men would not be able to understand that desire? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the dichotomy of a doctor like Suzanne not taking precautions to avoid pregnancy knowing her medical history. Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The first scene in "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" begins with a traditional scene in a romance. A woman in a bathtub. All women know she will be either waiting for a lover or comforting herself because of a fight or break-up with a lover. The reader is told that the big, fluffy cat in the room with her is named Guinevere. To keep the romance and courtly love in full view of the audience is the Labrador named Merlin. There will be some type of magic.

1. What is a cliche? Do you think the comment about a woman in a bathtub is a cliche? Why or why not? Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

2. What do you think the author is attempting to do by naming the cat and dog Guinevere and Merlin? Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

3. What do you think is meant by the statement, there will be some type of magic, referring to the first fifteen pages of the book? Use examples from "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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