Some of you may know that I used to coordinate a book club with a Catholic Priest. The club consisted of a group of readers who alternated between reading fiction, non-fiction, and spiritual books. One of my jobs was to create discussion questions for the group about the books we read. Now that I am finished writing my own novel, it seems logical that I should write book club questions for it. I will update my book on Amazon to include them, but you can also get them here. I have kept the questions deliberately vague so as not to give away spoilers.

1. “He sometimes leads you where you don’t want to go.” Do you agree? Have you ever been in a difficult situation and later looked back to see how much growth it gave you?
2. Do you think people of faith should isolate themselves from those with different beliefs? What is the risk of surrounding oneself with those of opposing beliefs? Is it possible to be “in the world” and not “of it?”
3. How much did you know about spiritual direction before reading this book? How does it differ from counseling or pastoral counseling? What do you think about Fr. Callahan?
4. Why do you think Claire was drawn to religious life? Would you describe her as more spiritual or religious? How strong is Claire’s faith? Do you think she found her vocation?
5. What is the best way to deal with an alcoholic family member?
6. Why do you think the funeral was packed with people? Do you think anyone sincerely mourned the loss of Claire’s father?
7. How do you love someone who engages in criminal behavior? Should family members protect each other and help to cover up crimes?
8. Did any of the events in the book surprise you?
9. Do you think bachelor and/or bachelorette parties are a good idea? What do you consider cheating in a committed relationship, and where do you draw the line?
10. Why do you think Claire made the choices she made? Do you agree with Claire’s choices? What choices would you have made differently? What advice would you have given to Claire?
11. Which character did you like the most? Which character did you like the least? Which character would you like to sit down with for dinner?
12. Do you think people like Alec are redeemable? Did you see any good in Alec? Why do you think Alec was attracted to Claire? Do you think Claire could have handled the situation with Alec differently?
13. Do you agree it is okay to kill someone in self-defense? Do you think Claire committed any sins in this book? If so, what were they? Who else committed sins and what were they?
14. Do you think Claire’s parents loved her? What kind of relationship did the parents have with each other? What does it mean to “Honor your father and your mother?”
15. What are your thoughts on Vinny and his pursuit of Claire? Did any of his actions surprise you?
16. Can you think of a situation where someone made a choice because they wanted to avoid the truth?
17. What do you think of Claire’s relationship with her cousin, Diane? How would you define family loyalty?
18. What do you think of Claire’s relationship with her mother? Do you think her mom was happy with her life?
19. Do you think the title fits the story? What does it mean to be “Good Enough?”
20. What do you hope happens next for Claire?