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Book Jacket

The Second Mrs. Hockaday

At once a love story, a history lesson and a beautifully written tale of ...

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Discuss The Second Mrs. Hockaday by Susan Rivers

There are many allusions to classical literature, myths and legends in the novel. Which stood out for you?

4

Dec. 23, 2017
by rebeccar

How many readers had a pretty clear idea of what had happened before it was revealed?

8

Dec. 23, 2017
by rebeccar

How do you react to the male characters in the novel, particularly to those that stay at home during the war years?

9

Dec. 09, 2017
by bettyt

What motivates Placidia and Major Hockaday to marry so soon after their first meeting?

19

Dec. 07, 2017
by bettyt

Do you feel sympathy toward Major Hockaday's behavior when he returns from the war?

27

Dec. 06, 2017
by bettyt

This is a story told through letters, inquest reports and diary entries. Why do you think the author chose to tell the story in this way?

23

Dec. 06, 2017
by dorothyl

How did reading The Second Mrs Hocking add to or change your understanding of the events of the Civil War?

18

Dec. 06, 2017
by dorothyl

What is the cause of the disturbance about Helen's birth?

12

Dec. 06, 2017
by dorothyl

How do you think Placidia felt about her baby, particularly in light of her rape?

11

Dec. 06, 2017
by dorothyl

How did you respond to Achilles' relationship with his cousin Roe?

10

Dec. 06, 2017
by dorothyl

Should Major Hockaday have married Placidia, only to leave her unprotected?

21

Dec. 06, 2017
by JLPen77

How did you respond to the ghost of the first Mrs Hockaday? Do you have any similar ghostly experiences?

14

Dec. 01, 2017
by jeannew

Do you think Abner and Nerissa have a future together?

7

Dec. 01, 2017
by jeannew

What do you think really happened to Placidia's baby?

20

Nov. 29, 2017
by joannev

Discuss Achilles' decision to read his mother's diary. Would you have done the same?

14

Nov. 28, 2017
by andreab

How does the reader's understanding of Placidia and the Major's story change when their adult son Achilles enters the narrative?

9

Nov. 27, 2017
by rebeccar

In what ways is this a story of Paradise Lost – for Placidia and the Major, for their son learning the truth, and for the South in general?

5

Nov. 23, 2017
by JLPen77

Consider Placidia's relationships with other women in the novel. Who does she have conflict with? Who does she bond with? Why?

4

Nov. 21, 2017
by jamiek

How does discovering that Blue eyes/Achilles is her brother influence Placidia’s thinking and change how she feels about her father?

10

Nov. 21, 2017
by dianaps

Why not just tell the truth?

9

Nov. 21, 2017
by dianaps

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