Three Days Till Rapture, often lyrical and passionate, is also historically accurate, revealing issues that are both deep and complex. So it lends itself perfectly to bookclub readings and discussion.
And by the way, I’d also love to join you for feedback or discussion, or to arrange a Zoom or in-person book talk. ─Fisher
And by the way, I’d also love to join you for feedback or discussion, or to arrange a Zoom or in-person book talk. ─Fisher
download the questions as a pdf
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Prologue: Saved By Grace
1. After being rescued by Grace, young Valentine gazes up into her eyes and thinks, “This must be what it feels like to be loved.” What does this tell us about Vallee’s experience of childhood? What other cues in the prologue add to this impression?
Chapter 1: A Ticket to Alberta
1. Mrs. Foresburg is disgusted with the Mitchell girl, who is pregnant and not married. A discussion with Grace ensues about ways to end a pregnancy. Consider some of these and discuss whether or not these ideas would be historically accurate. What other choices did pregnant women have at that time?
2. At the end of the chapter, Grace sits at the table with Josephine and Rosie, stating that despite Valentine’s bad behaviour, she intends to stay with him. And Josephine cryptically comments that Grace is either “a big woman or a mighty damn fool.” Can you make an argument for both cases?
2. At the end of the chapter, Grace sits at the table with Josephine and Rosie, stating that despite Valentine’s bad behaviour, she intends to stay with him. And Josephine cryptically comments that Grace is either “a big woman or a mighty damn fool.” Can you make an argument for both cases?
Chapter 2: His Danger Pay
1. Grace and Josephine have several arguments about the proper care of children. Who was right? Did the other woman have a point?
2. From time to time, both Josephine and Vallee refer to Grace as a killjoy, and she does at times seem to focus on the negative. Her main complaint about Vallee here is that he keeps getting drunk and losing his jobs. Is Grace right about this? How could she more effectively respond to the problem?
3. Grace’s relationship with her mother-in-law is very complicated. If you were Josephine’s daughter-in-law, how might you handle things?
2. From time to time, both Josephine and Vallee refer to Grace as a killjoy, and she does at times seem to focus on the negative. Her main complaint about Vallee here is that he keeps getting drunk and losing his jobs. Is Grace right about this? How could she more effectively respond to the problem?
3. Grace’s relationship with her mother-in-law is very complicated. If you were Josephine’s daughter-in-law, how might you handle things?
Chapter 3: Three Days Till Rodeo
1. As a teenager, Beatrice was a victim of horrendous physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the Winnipeg Home for Girls. Grace suggests that the abuse could be related to her behaviour as an adult, which was not a common belief at the time. Do you agree? What are some of Beatrice’s adult behaviours and attitudes that may have come from her abuse and trauma?
2. When High Roller Hal hits a little dog on the highway, he backhands Beatrice, calls her down, and blames her for the accident. He even blames the little dog, who is dying, for smashing his grill. What does this foreshadow about what lies in store for Beatrice?
2. When High Roller Hal hits a little dog on the highway, he backhands Beatrice, calls her down, and blames her for the accident. He even blames the little dog, who is dying, for smashing his grill. What does this foreshadow about what lies in store for Beatrice?
Chapter 4: The Nest
1. List and discuss several reasons that Valentine starts, and continues, his affair with Ruby.
2. Why does Vallee climb the tree? Why does he react as he does afterwards? Do you see any symbolism in how Grace comforts him?
3. Adult eagles have been documented to kill their own young – although it’s more likely to be the father who does so. From a natural and evolutionary standpoint, why would an eagle parent kill their chick, or let it die? The author made a decision to presume it was the mother who killed the chick in this chapter, not the father. Knowing some of the gender issues in this novel, why would the author make it the mother who prevails over Valentine here?
2. Why does Vallee climb the tree? Why does he react as he does afterwards? Do you see any symbolism in how Grace comforts him?
3. Adult eagles have been documented to kill their own young – although it’s more likely to be the father who does so. From a natural and evolutionary standpoint, why would an eagle parent kill their chick, or let it die? The author made a decision to presume it was the mother who killed the chick in this chapter, not the father. Knowing some of the gender issues in this novel, why would the author make it the mother who prevails over Valentine here?
Chapter 5: A Thousand Words
1. Valentine and Josephine are both shocked that Beatrice was charged with, and convicted of, first degree murder, rather than the more appropriate and lesser charge of manslaughter. Discuss, in terms of historical attitudes to poor people, to women, and to domestic abuse.
2. When finally reflecting on the photograph of James, Josephine reacts to the words at the bottom, His Country Needed Him. Why do these words inspire such disdain in Josephine? Besides his country, who else needed James, and why?
2. When finally reflecting on the photograph of James, Josephine reacts to the words at the bottom, His Country Needed Him. Why do these words inspire such disdain in Josephine? Besides his country, who else needed James, and why?
Chapter 6: On the Wings of a Dove
1. Josephine’s desire to reunite with her beloved James is finally realized. Discuss how this scenario either supports or doesn’t support a Christian view of the afterlife. Do you believe that, in death, we may be reunited with those we loved and lost? Discuss.
2. After the loss of Josephine, Grace comforts the children while they cry, but then it’s back to work, as usual. Grace also keeps and displays the wreath that was made for Josephine’s grave, and incorporates Josephine into the children’s prayers. What do you know about historical differences in grieving practices, especially regarding children? Are there pros and cons compared to how things are handled today?
2. After the loss of Josephine, Grace comforts the children while they cry, but then it’s back to work, as usual. Grace also keeps and displays the wreath that was made for Josephine’s grave, and incorporates Josephine into the children’s prayers. What do you know about historical differences in grieving practices, especially regarding children? Are there pros and cons compared to how things are handled today?
Chapter 7: The Little House
1. Does Valentine love Grace? Discuss.
2. As Grace prepares to board the train to Ontario, she comes across the lock of hair given to her by Josephine on her deathbed, and this leads to a long reflection on the conversation in which her mother-in-law extracted a consequential vow from her. In retrospect, how does Grace feel about this? What are the arguments for the two sides of her conflict?
3. Is Grace going to leave Valentine? Should Grace leave Valentine?
2. As Grace prepares to board the train to Ontario, she comes across the lock of hair given to her by Josephine on her deathbed, and this leads to a long reflection on the conversation in which her mother-in-law extracted a consequential vow from her. In retrospect, how does Grace feel about this? What are the arguments for the two sides of her conflict?
3. Is Grace going to leave Valentine? Should Grace leave Valentine?
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