Discuss A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison

Feb. 08, 2016
by davinamw

After the conclusion fo the novel, how do you imagine events unfolding?

Mar. 05, 2016
by laurieh

Why does Annie confess to Jonathan upon her return from London?

Mar. 02, 2016
by beac

Which indiscretion do you think the title refers to, or might it refer to more than one?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

What would have happened if Annie did not make her confession?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

Is Annie a reliable narrator? How would the story be different if it were told from another point of view?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

Did the revelation in the letter from Emmie's uncle come as a surprise? What previous scenes hint at this revelation? Is Emme justified in holding Annie responsible?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

What causes Annie's obsession with Patrick? And why does it fade once she finally meets him in London as an adult?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

Is Jonathan's decision to move out defensible? How are the girls' childhoods altered by the events of the summer? How might they look back on this period in their lives?

Feb. 26, 2016
by Navy Mom

Annie writes: "The heart is large, and there is more than one material in the bucket we call love." How does the novel address the theme of the nature of love? How do notions or definitions of love evolve as the novel progresses?

Feb. 21, 2016
by AmyD

How does Annie's upbringing influence her behavior as a young adult? What leads to Annie's "bargain" with herself in the clinic in San Francisco?

Feb. 19, 2016
by Rebecca L.

How did the structure of the novel affect your reading experience? Does the structure remind you of any other novels?

Feb. 16, 2016
by caroln

Is Annie responsible for Robbie's accident, and for her family's unraveling? Is it in her power to protect them?

Feb. 15, 2016
by caroln

Patrick defines art as "whatever stands in the world with no other purpose than to move us." Annie suggests it should at least be beautiful. Do you agree with either of these definitions?

Feb. 15, 2016
by donnac

How does the novel interrogate the nature of memory?

Feb. 15, 2016
by pennyp

Which characters, besides Annie, seek forgiveness? Which characters are ultimately redeemed, and which, if any, are not?

Feb. 15, 2016
by rebeccar

How can Annie's statement that it is "easier to blame the impulsiveness of youth than the wanton self-indulgence of a grown woman" be assessed in the context of her story?

Feb. 13, 2016
by darylb

A Small Indiscretion

Discuss A Small Indiscretion by Jan Ellison

Ask the Author

After the conclusion fo the novel, how do you imagine events unfolding?

Why does Annie confess to Jonathan upon her return from London?

Which indiscretion do you think the title refers to, or might it refer to more than one?

What would have happened if Annie did not make her confession?

Is Annie a reliable narrator? How would the story be different if it were told from another point of view?

Did the revelation in the letter from Emmie's uncle come as a surprise? What previous scenes hint at this revelation? Is Emme justified in holding Annie responsible?

What causes Annie's obsession with Patrick? And why does it fade once she finally meets him in London as an adult?

Is Jonathan's decision to move out defensible? How are the girls' childhoods altered by the events of the summer? How might they look back on this period in their lives?

Annie writes: "The heart is large, and there is more than one material in the bucket we call love." How does the novel address the theme of the nature of love? How do notions or definitions of love evolve as the novel progresses?

How does Annie's upbringing influence her behavior as a young adult? What leads to Annie's "bargain" with herself in the clinic in San Francisco?

How did the structure of the novel affect your reading experience? Does the structure remind you of any other novels?

Is Annie responsible for Robbie's accident, and for her family's unraveling? Is it in her power to protect them?

Patrick defines art as "whatever stands in the world with no other purpose than to move us." Annie suggests it should at least be beautiful. Do you agree with either of these definitions?

How does the novel interrogate the nature of memory?

Which characters, besides Annie, seek forgiveness? Which characters are ultimately redeemed, and which, if any, are not?

How can Annie's statement that it is "easier to blame the impulsiveness of youth than the wanton self-indulgence of a grown woman" be assessed in the context of her story?

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