Christmas Wedding (Patterson)

Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:

• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)

Also consider these questions for The Christmas Wedding—they were kindly submitted by Sylvie Barton, from Mesa, AZ. Sylvie is the organizer of The Mesa Thematic Book and Movie Club.

1. Was the story credible? The characters credible?

2. Claire’s been summoned by Hank, her husband, and she says, “She did not want a fight today.  Or any day, really.  She couldn’t stand his blow-ups, but she didn’t know what to do about them.  The kids loved Hank.  Keep the peace, Claire, she reminded herself.”  What would be your suggestion for Claire?

3.  On page 27, the author is writing about Claire and says, “Claire knew she was strong—she’d had the twins via natural childbirth (26 hours in labor), still ran three miles a day—but, shoot, she thought, you can be the strongest person in the world and still make bad decisions and have a pretty miserable life.”  Are Claire’s attributes truly feats of strength?  In what area, if any, is Claire lacking strength?
4.  Did you find any similarity in all of the women characters in this book?

5.  In the first video that Gaby sends to her children she states, “I needed a big change.  Everybody needs a change.  If you don’t change, you’re stuck in a rut.”  Do agree or disagree with her statement and why or why not?

6.  In Gaby’s second video she states:  “I think that most people can lead very satisfying lives, as long as they don’t spend too much time staring at their own belly buttons and worrying about things that aren’t within their control."  What do you think Gaby is trying to say through this message?  Do agree or disagree?

10. What are your feelings or any insights about Jacob’s motto:  “Seize what’s been handed you.  Make smart decisions.  Make decisions because—he said it again—life is a temporary situation.”

11.Marty imparts his wisdom to Gaby’s students on pages 119 and 120.  Do you agree or disagree with this pep talk that he provides them. Is it true or false that the most interesting people are in books?

12. On page 121 Marty states:  “You see, one of the best things about reading is that you’ll always have something to think about when you’re not reading.”  Is reading the only source that provides this?

13. Claire asks for her mom’s approval or disapproval to end her marriage with Hank and Gaby states:  “You don’t need me to approve or disapprove.  A marriage is the most private thing in the world.  Only the people in it know if it works for them or doesn’t.”  Do you agree or disagree with Gaby? What are your thoughts on this statement?

19.What are your concerns about this book?

20.At the end of the book, do you feel hope for the characters?

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