The Summer Cottage
By Viola Shipman
Reading Group Questions
- The Summer Cottage is inspired by the author’s family’s beloved family cabin, where he spent childhood summers with his grandparents. Do you have a summer cottage? What memories does it hold, and what does it mean to you? How long has it been in your family? Do you intend to pass it along? And what are your favorite quirks or items in your cottage?
- The Summer Cottage is also inspired by and set in the author’s beloved, real hometown of Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan. Do you live in a resort town, or vacation in a favorite place every summer? What memories do you have there? What emotions does it evoke when you arrive?
- In The Summer Cottage, each chapter is centered around a “Cottage Rule.” Do you have rules – funny or real – for your home? What are the importance of rules in our life? How do they help us? How do they hinder us? And do you think we have too many rules in society, or too few?
- Do you still spend time with your family? What’s that mean to you/them? Are we losing that connection?
- Adie Lou, the main character in the novel, wants to recapture not only the dreams she had growing up but also the person she was. Do you have dreams that never materialized? What were they? And what stood in the way of those coming true (children, mortgages, illness, caring for your parents, money, divorce, or just plain old back luck)?
- A main theme in the novel centers on the importance of home and history. As Adie Lou renovates her summer cottage, she uncovers a fascinating history about Sadie, a young woman who lived in the cottage in the late 1800s. Does your summer cottage or home have a fascinating history? Share.
- Furthermore, Sadie’s history is fraught with sadness and tragedy as her young life has already been predetermined for her by men. Adie Lou’s life and career has also been influenced by men. Has your life or decisions ever been influenced by men in a negative way? How so (Divorce? Equal pay at work?)? How have women and women’s rights changed over the last century? How have they not?
- Another theme in the novel centers on friendships and how hard women can often be on one another. Adie Lou has a best friend in Trish and a rival in Iris. Who is your best friend? Share some stories. Who is or has been your rival? Why was he/she your rival? Did you ever make amends or come to an understanding?
- Another theme in the novel centers on friendships and how hard women can often be on one another. Adie Lou has a best friend in Trish and a rival in Iris. Who is your best friend? Share some stories. Who is or has been your rival? Why was he/she your rival? Did you ever make amends or come to an understanding?
- The Summer Cottage is about believing in yourself and giving yourself second chances in life, be it love, work, home. Do you believe in yourself? Why or why not? Have you given yourself a second chance at something in life? Discuss. Are you thinking of “restarting” your life or your dreams? How and why?
- Running themes in the author’s novels are respecting and sharing our family histories, honoring our elders, holding onto our heirlooms and cherishing our past, pain and all. Are we losing those connections today? Why or why not? What are ways you share your family history, honor your elders, utilize heirlooms or cherish your past? Discuss.
- What are your favorite beach reads? Which authors seem to capture summer for you?
BOOK CLUB VISITS
I love book clubs! As much as writing books (and coffee and wine and chocolate)! And I love to talk to book clubs. They are truly the lifeblood of an author. And I am always willing – depending on my writing and travel schedule, and with enough notice – to talk with any and all book clubs (via phone call, Skype, Facetime … I love to see your faces!).
SCHEDULE A VISIT
Please contact gary@violashipman.com to schedule a time for your book club to discuss any of my books!