Discuss Cathy and Libertie's dynamic, and what Libertie hopes for her own children. Did you feel more drawn to Cathy or to Libertie?

In many ways, this novel is about the relationship between mothers and their children. Discuss Cathy and Libertie's dynamic, and what Libertie hopes for her own children. Did you feel more drawn to Cathy or to Libertie?

Cathy and Libertie's relationship lacked open affection and true communication. There were walls between them. Libertie wants her children to know that she loves them and accepts them for who they are— not what they might one day be. I was more drawn to Libertie because I felt empathy for her. I didn't always agree with her decisions, but I could understand them.

I agree that there was little affection between the two of them. Cathy saw Libertie as her helper and her successor. Libertie didn’t feel like she was her own person until she went away to school. I felt sorry for Libertie throughout most of the book even though she made some decisions that created her own challenges. Though it was hard for me to accept that she hated her mother so much that she wouldn’t reply to her letters. The fact that she didn’t throw the letters away was an indication that she wasn’t completely detached which made the ending less surprising and certainly made me feel better about book. I did start to feel sorry for Cathy toward the end when the tone of her letters started to change. She was conflicted between her anger and disappointment in her daughter; and the realization that she really did love Libertie and her excitement for future grandchildren. I agree that Libertie’s children would be accepted for who they were, and that they would supported by her mother’s new perspective and the Graces.

I thought Cathy was one of those women who felt certain things that she didn't show. She truly loved Libertie but wasn't able to express it until Libertie was gone and she was lonely and missing her. It's sad it took that for Cathy to be able to tell Libertie what she meant to her

Cathy was not the loving mother that all children need. Libertee when she married in such a rush and left for Haiti did not answer her mother’s letters throughput the years she lived there. Cathy did not know if she was alive or had died. A very dysfunctional mother daughter relationship. I did not bond with either character so was not drawn to either.

The lack of affection and communication between Cathy and her daughter made for a very strained relationship until the very end of the book. Sometimes I felt annoyed at both characters. The mother should have treated Libertie better, but she was too focused on what she wanted for their futures. As a mother, I felt the anguish over her letters never being answered and wondering if her daughter was still alive. I think the distance did eventually bring them closer once they realized they missed each other. Libertie will not make the same mistakes with her own children and raising the children together will help heal the mother-daughter relationship

I felt much more drawn to Cathy, perhaps it was because we share a name. I thought she was the most interesting character in the book. She certainly loved her daughter, but her way of showing love was by providing for Libertie and giving her an example of a strong independent woman. Unfortunately, Libertie needed more reassurance and demonstrative love than her mother was able to provide. It was a frustrating dynamic.

I could relate more to Libertie than Cathy because I thought Cathy was very cold and hard on Libertie. Libertie was just looking for that unconditional love that she couldn't seem to get from her mother, even though I think Cathy did love Libertie so much, she for whatever reason, didn't feel comfortable showing her affection and approval. I think it cost her many years of what could have been a loving relationship with Libertie.

I agree with both Marcia S and Joyce on the mother daughter dynamics. I felt draw to both of them for different reasons, Cathy for her determination to keep her child safe in an unruly and dangerous world by trying to give her daughter the best opportunities but I was also drawn to Liberties determination to make her way in the world on her own terms!