BKMT READING GUIDES
Fare Forward - A Novel
by Wendy Dubow Polins
Paperback : 366 pages
3 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
Introduction
In the intersection of modern science and ancient mysticism, is a story about finding the things that transcend time. Gabriella Vogel's grandfather is about to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics for his shocking proof that will change everything we take for granted. As she stands at the threshold of the beginning of everything in her own life, she knows that her future and that of the world, hangs delicately in the balance. She must decide: What are the things in life worth fighting for? Can we change our fate?
In this journey of a lifetime, Gabriella meets a mysterious, young scientist, then learns that he's been at the center of her grandfather's research for hundreds of years, met her grandmother eighty years earlier, and that he hasn't aged--at all. Inspired by theories in art and science and events in history, Gabriella's unforgettable quest for answers will reveal a secret hidden for generations by her family, and one moment--one choice, that will change everything.
Excerpt
39I DROP MY BAGS IN the front hall and look out at the timeless view of the dunes, sea, and sand. It feels so good to be away from the architecture studios, New York, and everything that has happened. This is a rare opportunity to have the house to myself. ...
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Discussion Questions
What is the meaning of "The power to choose your own fate?" Do you think one can actually choose?Einstein says, "Everything is connected." What does that mean to you?
What is special about the relationship between Lily and Gabriella? Have you ever felt that same relationship with a friend?
The book tells us that art and science are asking the same question- what, if anything is eternal. Do you agree? Can you think of any examples?
Gabriella and her grandmother have premonitions. They know or feel things before they happen. Do you know anyone with that gift or power?
Gabriella’s grandmother, Sophie, wrote, "Only art education can improve quality of life, understanding and knowledge." What do you think she meant by this? Do you agree?
The book deals with destiny and fate and whether we can change things. Do you believe that, "What did not happen might still remain possible, if we could go back in time and choose differently?"
The book proposes that art is a legacy for the future and a way to live on into time. Can you think of other ways to live on, to leave your mark, your legacy, after your death?
The book is in the first person, the voice of Gabriella. Would it have been as effective in the third person?
The scientific community believes that everything will be ultimately explained through the "Theory of Everything". Do you agree or do you think there are mysteries in the universe that will never be explained?
Notes From the Author to the Bookclub
Note from the author: I started writing about the way I was feeling, inventing characters who questioned things that I’d been thinking about. I had been studying mysticism, and one day, while on my way to a lecture at MIT, I went into the wrong room and found myself listening to a talk about Albert Einstein and his theories on Time. That’s when everything came together. I realized that whether you’re an ancient mystic, a cutting-edge physicist, or a 19th century poet: everyone is really asking the same questions. What, if anything, is eternal. A central idea of the story is that there are so many amazing things in the world, waiting to be discovered, enjoyed, learned and experienced. Let the power of what you want to create, drive your commitment in every step you take. Live life creatively but be disciplined. Rigorous. And never, EVER, give up. Go into the darkness of your intuition and trust it, because what you’ll discover will be wonderful, it will be the light, YOUR light. What you’ll discover, will be yourself.Book Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 3 members.
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