What acts of caring for others did you see in the book? Are there places where such neighborliness still exists, or is this a relic of the past?

When Harold asks why Anna and her mother bring provisions to an elderly man, she replies that “he’s our neighbour and he’s old.” What other acts of caring did you see in the book? Are there places where such neighborliness still exists, or is this a relic of the past? Do you think the people of some countries generally display more compassion for each other than others?

The fact that the Butlers were willing to help other farmers in need and vice versa. I do believe that there are some areas where this type of neighborliness still exists. Example being when my new neighbor's lawn mower died, my husband lent ours to her so she could finish the lawn.

Although when George helped Anna with her sprained ankle he had an underlying self-serving purpose - often times the case in current society.

I don't so much think that it is countries where it exists, but the values we're raised with that determine the extent of neighborliness.

There were many acts of caring including Tess helping Anna make her dress, Marcus finding a place for Sarah to stay and driving her there, Fee listening to Sarah’s story of losing her daughter, Anna’s father repairing Harold’s bike, and Danny, Paddy, and others rescuing Harold. I think there are places where neighborliness exists, especially in small towns where people know everyone, in some church communities, and in some places of work.

There were many:

*Tess helping Anna reconstruct her dress
*Anna's father helping to repair Harold's bike
*Helping older villagers

In fact today I was in a restaurant with both indoor and outdoor sitting when I dropped my cane under the table. And a fine gentlemen heard it on the outside and came into the restaurant proper to recover it for me. We don't see that touch of kindness often in our current world. Yes, Virginia their are still kind people in our world!

Those above found several instances of kindness in the book. I do think there is kindness in our world, sometimes in the most unusual places. In times of crisis, neighbors pitch in to help. There was a tornado 2 years ago that hit a part of our town, and people came out to help their neighbors collect their belongings, and bring food and water. People are basically kind, but sometimes have to have something right in front of them!

Acts of kindness are quite evident in this story, with the most notable one when Anna’s family helped the elderly neighbor every day. Personally, neighbors are choosing to refrain from friendliness and kindness these days in America. But there are a few who still want to help out.

Many acts of kindness in the book. I think today we can show kindness and do show kindness. Even the smallest of things like returning someone else's cart to the grocery store is a thoughtful kindness. Sometimes what makes me feel sad is how surprised I am when a stranger or neighbor shows kindness to me. It is no longer an obvious thing to help one another.

There were many acts of kindness in the book. I live in the Midwest where I think people are still willing to help a neighbor or even a stranger in need.

People in the book seemed to be especially insightful in being kind and in smaller places where people know each other, that seems easier. I live in Chicago and this city in the past few years has gotten a bad rap but everyday if you look you can see kindness at work-someone helping an older person with a heavy suitcase to get up the stairs from the el, someone help a handicapped person swipe their card on the bus, someone give directions to someone lost, someone who grabs the runaway child who is headed for the crosswalk, someone who gives money or food to the immigrants who have been shipped here but don’t have papers to work. Kindness exists even in large places.

There are many instances of kindness and caring in the book. Many listed above. I think you do see that on an individual level today, but it is more rare. It happens quietly and one-on-one more than on a societal level. But people do still care. I think they just have a harder time showing it now. We are too separate and living without community.

The acts of kindness in the book have been adequately listed in the above posts. Does this neighborliness exist still, yes, but it depends upon the people involved. I live in a small Vermont town--the old families who've lived here for generations show this attention and kindness to others in the town, including newcomers. BUT, many of the new folk are from big cities where no one looks at each other, rushing by with no interaction. They tend not to be as neighborly. Now, this is a generalization, of course, and there are exceptions. But by and large the difference between the families who have been brought up this way and those who have come into the community is this. Yet, recently, when flying to Europe and back, I found that people were incredibly caring and helpful to each other. Getting luggage down from the overhead bin for older or shorter people, allowing others in line ahead of themselves, etc. I was amazed at that is such crowded and fast moving places.

There were many acts of kindness in the book as stated above.. I believe there are many acts of kindness all around us in the world today, we just see the bad because that is what the media portrays most frequently. I always try to keep my little world a place to spread kindness when I can, sometimes it is the smallest gestures that mean the most. A smile, a touch, a reassuring word can often go further than you ever imagined... I know those things have made a difference in my life.

Let's see. Marcus & Fee, Hazel, Oran and Sarah herself in the current story. Then, Harold, Tess, Danny, Fr. Peter and even the seeress in Anna's story. I recently placed my 95-year old aunt in an Assisted Living Community. There are so many of her fellow residents who have welcomed and looked after her during these early days. "Good People" exist everywhere and we should all strive to become like them.