Introduction

Marjorie Moore always wants more—and as a result, often feels she ends up with less. Forever searching elsewhere, she is consumed with wanting, or in her opinion, needing. Feeling trapped by her town and her family, she escapes through shopping, pill popping, and fantasizing about a possible affair with a friend from high school. Her credit card debt “forces” her to sell prescription drugs—which she secures at her receptionist job at the local hospital—to her dysfunctional friends. As her web of lies at home and work unravels, Margie struggles to become present in her own life.

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Excerpt

PROLOGUE



When Marjorie Moore emerged from the dark cocoon of her mother’s womb, suddenly bathed in a sea of light, the fresh air against her skin making her tiny body tingle, she was sure she’d felt a primitive sense of pure freedom. It was high noon on August 16, 1978, and a real scorcher. People say it’s impossible to remember but Margie swears she does; maybe she dreamed it, but it’s a vision, a feeling, locked somewhere deep in her subconscious. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

• Does Marjorie Moore seem a sympathetic character in the first chapter? Why or why not? Does she become more, or less, sympathetic to you as her year unfolds? As a flawed protagonist, did she have enough redeeming qualities to make you root for her and if so was there a turning point when you began to empathize with her?

• Do you think the bookending of Margie’s life with her birth and old age enhanced the story?

• Were you sympathetic to Margie’s misadventures? Could you relate to any of her issues?

• Do you think Margie is a narcissist? Why or why not.

• Does Marjorie qualify as an addict, in your terms? If so, to what is she addicted? How does she overcome her addiction? If you do not believe she is an addict, how would you describe her? Do you wrestle with addictions or searching for escapes in your own life?

• What needs does social media (Facebook, Pinterest) serve in Marjorie’s life? Do you believe others are telling the truth on social media? Are you tempted to show only the best side of yourself on social media, to create a different identity or brand? And if so, what effects do you feel this attitude has on society?

• Would you say that Marjorie and Jack have an exceptionally good marriage, a troubled marriage, or a typical marriage with ups and downs? Is there a case to be made for all of those descriptions at different times?

• The past haunts Marjorie, and she struggles to let go of the trauma she endured as a child. Do you think we as adults are ever capable of leaving our childhood behind?

• One of the major topics in the novels is Marjorie’s pursuit of happiness by purchasing goods. Do you think our society has become more consumption driven with the advent of the internet? Do you find consumerism and the need for instant gratification to be a problem in America?

• Paris represents something intangible and yet longed for in Marjorie’s life. There is a saying, getting there is half the fun, or the journey is better than the destination. Yet it can be unhealthy to yearn for unattainable things, to be in love with the fantasy. What do you feel is the right balance between these attitudes? When does desire and longing become unhealthy?

• What function do you think the turtle pond episodes served in the story?

• The underlying theme of the book is mindfulness: focusing on one’s awareness of the present moment. Is this something you consciously practice? Is it something that comes easily to you or something that takes effort? What activities and sensory experiences—sights, sounds, smells—bring you joy in the moment?

• Do you think being happy is a choice? And that this mindset and outlook can be adopted or learned? Has this novel caused you to reexamine your values and attitude in any way?

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