Introduction

In the story telling style of Kristin Hannah and Delia Owens, The Road Renounced is a World War I tale of one soldier's triumphs and tragedies as told by the woman who loves him.

2015. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. Suzanne Ryan uncovers her grandmother's diary hidden in the binding of a century-old photo album. Thrilled to learn about her grandmother, Maude, who died before Suzanne was born, she reads the first entry, written on Maude's tenth birthday.

1915. Prospect Park, Pennsylvania. Maude Brewer, her brother, Henry, and his best friend, Buzz Ryan, live a relatively carefree existence. But the darkening conflict in Europe looms, threatening them all with the fight of their lives.

At the same time, across the ocean, darkness has already fallen as the Germans march into neutral Belgium and shatter the life of nurse Marthe Peeters, whose family is viciously killed right in front of her. She is captured and forced to travel with the German Army, each step escalating the rage in her heart that explodes into plans for revenge.

But as Maude's story unfolds through the years, it intersects with Marthe's and despite the fact that an ocean separates them, it is clear that the two women share their perspectives on the war. They also, Suzanne learns, share the love of the same man, Buzz Ryan, Suzanne's grandfather. Buzz must not only fight the war on the battlefield, he must also fight the war within his heart.

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Excerpt

PROLOGUE


Marthe
Liege, Belgium
August 4, 1914

The neighborhood market on the outskirts of Liege swelled with shoppers, eager to claim their share of the scarce goods that arrived only an hour earlier. Marthe Peeters, elated to find butter again after months without it, counted out seven francs to the clerk and waited for her change. But her focus shifted to the flickering shadows on the wall above the counter that darkened, then dimmed, then shot to the ceiling. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

* Are you able to relate to what Florence, Maude’s mother, went through with her worry that actually kept her in bed most of the time? What would/could have helped the situation?

* Do you agree with Marthe’s decision to spy against the Germans?

* Discuss your view of the life Buzz and Marthe would have had if she had lived and come to this country with him.

* Do you think Maude was too hard on Buzz for his drinking, considering what he had been through in his life?

* Why do you think Maude didn’t leave Buzz during the years rather than put up with his drunkenness and abuse?

* Do you agree with Suzanne’s decision not to tell Maude’s remaining children what happened to their father?

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