One of the most surprising reactions to this story were "The
Lisas."
Time and time again, a woman tells me the story of how they
opened the book one morning and spent the day consuming the story
or didn't sleep because they had to know what came
next.
The next part is always, "I've given it to a
friend..."
So, if you're the first of your friends to discover Rainbow,
David, and Lisa's secret lunches; here's a space to help you form a
book club!
Thank you for resonating with the story. Thank you for seeking out
other people who might be changed the way you and I both were. I
think if I were going to talk with a small group about this story I
would start at the thorns and work toward the roses as it
were.
1. The Interludes, they are how we tie the message back to
reality.
2. Matthew, and the men like him in your lives.
3. Lisa, this is your book club, you resonated with this
story, why?
4. David, talk about your gay cousins. He was for
them.
5. Rainbow, start at The Flying Dutchman and go from
there.
6. The Dogs
7. The Music
8. Prizes for anyone who did or didn't barf
Leading Questions
1. Is there a historic event of Racial Violence in your state?
town? personal history? The real work begins at home. Open by
discussing how you learned whatever horrible story you're going to
share. Ask the group what they knew about the event before
you mentioned it. Explain that this is why I included the
interludes. In the hopes that it would spur people into
investigating how moments in our collective past may still be in
need of Social Atonement.
2. At which point did you first feel your body react? Was it to the racism in the opening? Was it the attack on David? Was it Rainbow racing home to her father chased by dogs? The level we internally respond to bigotry is equal to the Empathy we feel for strangers. If we don't view the violence of Gunnar and Evangeline's words as harmful indicators of potential escalation in a fictional story, what trust can we have that the people around us in the world will respond with Righteous Indignation to moments like this.
3. How has this story changed you?
4. Tell me all your thoughts on God.