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Our Short History: A Novel
by Lauren Grodstein
Published: 2017-03-21
Hardcover : 0 pages
Hardcover : 0 pages
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“Lauren Grodstein breaks your heart, then miraculously pieces it back together so it’s bigger—and stronger—than before.” —Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You
Karen Neulander, a successful New York political consultant and single mother, has always been fiercely ...
Karen Neulander, a successful New York political consultant and single mother, has always been fiercely ...
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Introduction
“Lauren Grodstein breaks your heart, then miraculously pieces it back together so it’s bigger—and stronger—than before.” —Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You
Karen Neulander, a successful New York political consultant and single mother, has always been fiercely protective of her son, Jacob, now six. She’s had to be: when Jacob’s father, Dave, found out Karen was pregnant and made it clear that fatherhood wasn’t in his plans, Karen walked out of the relationship, never telling Dave her intention was to raise their child alone.
Karen Neulander, a successful New York political consultant and single mother, has always been fiercely protective of her son, Jacob, now six. She’s had to be: when Jacob’s father, Dave, found out Karen was pregnant and made it clear that fatherhood wasn’t in his plans, Karen walked out of the relationship, never telling Dave her intention was to raise their child alone.
But now Jake is asking to meet his dad, and with good reason: Karen is dying.
As she struggles to play out her last days in the “right” way for Jake, Karen wrestles with the knowledge that the only thing she cannot bring herself to do for her son—let his father become a permanent part of his life—is the thing he needs from her the most.
view entire excerpt...Discussion Questions
Why does Karen feel compelled to tell her whole history to Jake in a book rather than directly to him? In what ways is she shaping, permanently, how he understands his parents? Is this a selfish or a selfless act? Does her motivation evolve over the course of the book?Why does Jake’s relationship with his father have an instant advantage over that with his mother? How does Dave play on this advantage?
Why does Karen’s approach towards Ace and his extramarital affairs change so drastically?
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