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Showing results for tags 'April 2012 Reading Circle Cho'.
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It is assumed that you have read the book before reading posts in this thread, as the discussion might give away crucial points, and the continuous use of spoiler tags might hinder fluent reading of posts. The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing Product Description from Amazon ’Listening to the laughter, the sounds of children playing, Harriet and David would reach for each other’s hand, and smile, and breathe happiness.’ Four children, a beautiful old house, the love of relatives and friends, Harriet and David Lovatt’s life is a glorious hymn to domestic bliss and old-fashioned family values. But when their fifth child is born, a sickly and implacable shadow is cast over this tender idyll. Large and ugly, violent and uncontrollable, the infant Ben, ‘full of cold dislike,’ tears at Harriet’s breast. Struggling to care for her new-born child, faced with a darkness and a strange defiance she has never known before, Harriet is deeply afraid of what, exactly, she has brought into the world… Welcome to April's book circle. I have read this book and am amazed at the number of points it raises for discussion. A few questions/statements to start us off: 1. What did you think of this book? 2. What do you think about ‘The Dream’? 3. What do you think about Harriet as a mother and David as a father? 4. What do you think about David and Harriet’s marriage? 5. What are your feelings about Ben? 6. Ben’s first words were ‘I want cake’. What do you make of that? 7. How do you feel about Harriet's decision to return for Ben? 8. Who was your favorite/least favorite character? Why? 9. There is a sequel to this book, called Ben in the World. Will you be reading it? What about more books by Doris Lessing?