BKMT READING GUIDES
The Wishing Trees
by John Shors
Published: 2010-09-07
Paperback : 368 pages
Paperback : 368 pages
21 members reading this now
7 clubs reading this now
2 members have read this book
7 clubs reading this now
2 members have read this book
Almost a year after the death of his wife, former high-tech executive Ian finds a letter that will change his life. It contains Kate's final wish-a plea for him to take their ten-year-old daughter, Mattie, on a trip across Asia, through the countries they had always planned to visit. ...
No other editions available.
Jump to
Introduction
Almost a year after the death of his wife, former high-tech executive Ian finds a letter that will change his life. It contains Kate's final wish-a plea for him to take their ten-year-old daughter, Mattie, on a trip across Asia, through the countries they had always planned to visit. Eager to honor the woman they loved, Ian and Mattie embark on an epic journey, leaving notes to Kate in "wishing trees" along the way, and encountering miracles large and small. And as they begin to find their way back to each other, they discover that healing is possible and love endures-lessons that Kate hoped to show them all along...
Excerpt
Two as One“When one door closes, another one opens.” —American saying
Ian watched Mattie sleep, her body curved as if still pressed against his, her arms resting on a pillow that he had carefully positioned alongside her torso. The pillow acted as his body double on many nights, comforting her in his absence, offering her warmth and the remnants of his scent. The king-sized bed made his ten-year-old daughter seem so small. She looked too fragile and lonely, as if she might come unbound without him beside her. ...
![](images/btn_goCaret.gif)
Discussion Questions
1. Had you heard of “wish trees” before? If not, did you enjoy being introduced to them? Is there anything similar in your country?2. If you were Ian, would you take Mattie on the trip? Where do you draw the line between offering your child new experiences and providing for her/his safety?
3. Would you like to travel like Ian and Mattie do? Which country did you enjoy the most, and what about it appeals to you?
4. What did you think of Kate’s character, and her letters? Did you find Ian’s and Mattie’s reactions to her death believable and moving? Are they similar to your own experiences of loss?
5. Did everything ring true within the relationship of Ian and Mattie?
6. Who was your favorite character and why?
7. What do you think of Rupee, and how did he contribute to the story?
8. What do you think will happen to the young sex worker, Jaidee, when she returns home? Was Ian right to try and help her?
9. What was the most memorable moment of the book for you?
10. Ian and Mattie feel compelled to help the needy people they meet during their travels. Do you think people in wealthy countries have a moral obligation to assist the poor and suffering elsewhere in the world? To what extent? What sacrifices are you willing and not willing to make?
11. At the end of the novel, Ian and Mattie choose to settle in Hong Kong. How do you feel about their decision?
12. John Shors is supporting street children in Vietnam through his previous novel, Dragon House, and in conjunction with The Wishing Trees he is working with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees. Do you think it’s important for writers to take on such causes?
13. What do you think are the key messages of The Wishing Trees?
14. Which of John Shors’s novels have you enjoyed most?
Notes From the Author to the Bookclub
Note from the Author: My passion for travel has profoundly influenced my career as a bestselling novelist. My debut novel, Beneath a Marble Sky, is work of historical fiction and retells the remarkable story behind the creation of the Taj Mahal. Beside a Burning Sea, my next novel, is set on a tropical island in the South Pacific. My first contemporary novel, Dragon House, occurs in modern-day Saigon. And my new novel, The Wishing Trees, takes place in eight locales around the world (America, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Egypt). The Wishing Trees is a novel that will appeal to people who love to read about foreign places, as I bring the sights of Asia to life within its pages. Readers will accompany my characters as they ride the Bullet Trains of Japan, climb the Nepalese Himalayas, swim with sharks in Thailand, help a homeless child in India, and so on.Book Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 3 of 4 members.
Ask the author to call your group.
by JaniceWeeks (see profile) 10/05/10You can contact him through his web site, which is www.johnshors.com
MEMBER LOGIN
BECOME A MEMBER it's free
Now serving over 80,000 book clubs & ready to welcome yours. Join us and get the Top Book Club Picks of 2022 (so far).
SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES
Search
FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
![](images/button-close-x-fs8.png)
Please wait...