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1.
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The
book opens with Kate admitting she is "a compulsive reader
of the classifieds." She describes classified ads "as
the skeletons of stories, waiting for me to invent their skin."
How did this admission affect your perception of Kate? Was your
initial impression confirmed, or did it change as the story unfolded? |
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2.
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Who
are the Bog Boys and how did they get their name? What is their
significance in Kate's project, and in her life? Do you have or
wish you had Bog Boys in your life? |
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3.
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At
a family Christmas party, Kate stands up and states her intention
to move the cottage. She thinks that stating her intentions out
loud help with her resolve. Have you ever stated your intention
to face a challenge in order to gather courage? Did it help you
achieve success? |
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4.
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What
significance does the chapter on Wish Angels have to the rest of
the story? Kate states that "Wish Angels have special ways
of knowing." Did the success of the cottage project hinge on
a special way of knowing? Could anyone have done it with similar
success? |
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5.
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Visiting
the cottage colony, Kate returns to "the last little cottage
in the row." After her second tour of that cottage, Kate realizes
that she has "fallen deeply, irretrievably in love." Have
you ever become hopelessly entranced with an inanimate object? What
did it signify for you? |
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6.
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Kate
could have purchased a larger cottage with extra features, but
she insisted on one in particular. "I want to move a cottage
with personality, with history, a cottage that has been loved."
Does knowing that someone loved something make it more special?
If you were offered the bigger, better option, would you take
it?
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7.
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Town
Hall put Kate through her paces with paperwork, hearings, and challenges.
She bought the cottage before she had permission for the project.
Do you see this as risk or faith? How do faith and risk-taking contribute
to our lives? |
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8.
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What
little item does Kate refer to with affection and wonderment that
survives the moving ordeal and remains in place after the cottage
is set onto the new foundation? What are other moments of wonder
in the story? Do you note these little moments in your life? |
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9.
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Could
Kate have completed the cottage project as successfully without
the support of her friends? What roles do friends play in your life?
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10.
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"The
man will arrive when I have room for him." Kate hopes her expanded
home will help her love life. Do you believe there is some truth
in this, or do you think it is just wishful thinking? |
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11.
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Ed,
Kate's head carpenter, says, "The main thing is to get it over
here onto the foundation. Then, we build the connecting passageway,
and finally we marry the houses together." How does this technical
description act as a metaphor for the memoir? |
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12.
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What
are some moments in the story when Kate grapples with being female?
Have you ever felt limited or empowered by your gender? |
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13.
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How
did you react when Kate and Bruce missed seeing the cottage in the
Hyannis Airport Rotary? Did you find humor in Cottage for Sale where
you least expected it? |
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14.
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What is the role of Egypt the cat in Kate's life? Discuss key moments
in the story involving Egypt and how those moments affect Kate's
perceptions of the project and herself. Have you ever had an animal
who seemed to be "in charge" of your household? |
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15.
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Kate
developed a series of individual relationships with the workmen
on her project. Which relationships were most familiar to you? Discuss
the evolution, differences, or similarities in her relationships
with Ed, John, Mr. Hayden, and Vito. Whom among the workmen would
you most like to meet, or have work for you? |
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16.
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Kate
frets over details from the perfect shade of paint to the best blending
of construction materials. Can you relate to the need for precision,
or are you willing to settle for less? |
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17.
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If
Kate were not as focused on making careful and harmonious combinations
of color, texture, and form, would you have found the story as interesting?
What are some of the most striking and memorable passages in the
story that deal with sensory and tactile imagery? |
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18.
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Might
the house-moving/construction project have developed differently
if finances hadn't been an issue? Have you ever made major financial
decisions with no room for retreat and no safety net? |
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19.
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The
ability to imagine possibilities and to see a finished product
where there are only ideas is a shared trait between Kate and
some of the workmen. Is this a talent or a skill? Do you rely
on visual, verbal, emotional, or intuitive traits to carry you
through a project? What could have happened to Kate's project
if she had lacked vision?
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20.
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How
does sound and imagery play a part in the story? Have you ever read
any passages out loud just to hear how the words sounded? |
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21.
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Certain
events trigger memories within the memoir, which is itself a memory.
Did the memories help you get to know or care more about Kate and
her cottage project? Did Kate's memories trigger memories of your
own? |
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22.
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Did
Cottage for Sale stir up any long-latent dreams of yours? Do you
feel inspired or empowered to make different life choices as a result
of reading this book? |
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23.
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Discuss
the importance and significance of "home." |
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24.
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Was
the ending of the memoir satisfying or do you want to know more
about Kate's life in the "married" cottages? Based on
what you know of Kate, speculate about what happened next. |
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25.
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Would
you recommend this book to other reading groups? How would you describe
this book's effect on you? |