Are you part of a book club or looking to start one? Cattail Lane by Fran Kimmel makes a great book club pick!
Rudderless Nick Ackerman’s life changes when he discovers he has a 14-year-old son — who also comes with a grandmother with dementia. A heartwarming tale of second chances and how families are lost, found, and built anew.
Book Club Questions
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Cattail Lane has multiple narrators, but do you think there is a clear protagonist? Who do you think changes most over the course of the novel?
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What impact does Sarah have on Billy and Nick’s developing relationship, and how does she represent a different type of strength compared to Nick?
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If you could have learned more about one character’s backstory or future, who would you choose and why? Which character did you connect with the most, and why?
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Did your views on the people in the dementia ward change over the course of the book? If so, why?
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Grandma Evie is a central figure even though her dementia prevents us from fully understanding her perspective. How does her illness shape the relationships in the story? Do you have your own family experiences with dementia, and, if so, how has this affected your relationships?
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Were you surprised by the identity of the thief at Prairie View? Did the revelation affect the way you saw her character?
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Consider the sacrifices made by Nick, Billy, and Sarah. Do you think they found fulfillment or healing in what they gave up?
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The Goose Lake wetlands are important to Nic. What do you think Goose Lake represents for Nick, and how does it tie into the themes of family and legacy in the book?
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Do you believe that Nick, Billy, Sarah, and even Grandma Evie have formed a family by the end of the book? Why or why not?
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The ending leaves some questions open regarding Nick’s future and his relationships with Billy and Sarah. How did you interpret the final scenes? What future would you like for Nick and Sarah?