1. In preparation for her “Power of Myth” class, Hillary must write a description of her parents in terms of gods and goddesses. She defends the concept to Victor by arguing: “If we’re going to have a child, we first have to liberate ourselves from the child within.” What does this statement reveal about the differences between Hillary and Trudy? In what ways does it forecast the end of the novel?

2. Trudy states that what held her relationship together with Sinclair was a shared belief in supporting all that should be, and ignoring what wasn’t as it should be. How do you think this type of bond will serve them in their relationship in the future? How might this belief system translate into parenting methods?

3. Trudy experiences polarization of sensory experiences during her pregnancy; she is consistently nasally overwhelmed, but mostly deprived of tactile stimulation and tasty food. In what ways does this affect her state of mind? Of what do you think her particular cravings are symptomatic? What changed in her when these yearnings began to be met?

4. Who do you think Sweet Pea was? How did your assumptions regarding his apparitions change as the novel progressed? How did Trudy’s?

5. How are fathers portrayed in the novel? What do you think are the essential steps to gaining entry in the Daddy Club? Does Sinclair or Victor better fit the membership criteria?

6. Hillary clearly has an increasingly difficult time as the pregnancy progresses. What do you believe was her most important goal at the beginning of the process? How do you predict she would carry on afterwards?

7. Trudy says she never felt the hormonal shove towards procreation, yet she is clearly protective of Sweet Pea and eager to make good on her end of the “bargain.” Was her reversal predetermined? What do you think was the most important transition she makes on her way to the Mommy Club?

8. In the novel, the notion of a tidy, informed, but perhaps colorless existence is set against a chaotic, vibrant, but unpredictable one. How do these contrasting lifestyles inform the conflicts that arise between Trudy and Hillary? Do you feel one is a better environment for raising children?

9. What about the bohemian trio in Trudy’s birthing class makes her want to share her story with them? How might the pregnancy have differed if Trudy had someone to share honestly with for its duration?

10. How do the mother figures in Trudy’s life -- Randi, Cece, Mercedes --shape the way she views motherhood? In what particular ways to these women embody the role of mother?

11. What role does Hillary assume in regards to Trudy when she resides in the Schier mansion? Do you think the tensions could have been alleviated without the rigidity of life imposed? Can there ever be comfort in this type of situation?

12. Trudy believes that she lacks gravity on the planet. What are the sources of gravity for characters like Mercedes, Cece, and Aurelia? What are the antigravity forces at work on Trudy and Sinclair?

13. To what extent does Trudy’s prophetic ability enable her to make the right decisions? Does it ever cloud her judgment? Where do you think her abilities to make psychic connections with Aurelia or see into the future come from?

14. How are artists and art portrayed in the novel? Compare and contrast the creative process with procreation.

15. Trudy says a person has to be either fearless or rich to avoid lying. How do you interpret her numerous lies and her justifications for doing so? What fears does she overcome on her path to finding truth?

16. Sinclair believes that Trudy’s postpartum silence is a punishment directed at him. Do you think he deserves such a punishment? Has his character made a proper showing of atonement by the end?

17. The novel swirls around several notions of what a mother can be. Do you think anyone can be a mother? Is Cece correct in postulating that no one believes a woman when she says she does not want children? Is it different when men make the same claim?

18. Hillary, Victor, and Trudy decide to proceed with the surrogate pregnancy without a contract. How would you interpret this unanimous acquiescence? What do you make of Trudy’s later sentiment regarding Hillary: “All either one of us can do is march forward according to the plan we tricked ourselves into?”

19. Trudy treasures her eclectic hometown and finds genuine comfort in its particular urban buzz. How does the personality of San Antonio mirror her own? How much do you find location affects your attitude?

20. Is Sinclair’s assertion that he and Trudy are “river people” an accurate one? What is the importance of other water symbolism in the book?

21. Were you surprised by the outcome of the novel? Was it immediately convincing that the conclusion was the best possible scenario? Would you ever consider surrogate pregnancy as an option for infertility?

22. Trudy knows what her life would have looked like if she and Sinclair had stayed together. Do you think this circumstance is the best way for them to be reunited? Are some people just meant to be together, despite differences in the past?

23. Many people give Trudy advice during her pregnancy, ranging from the practical to the absurd. What advice do you think she could have used most before she agreed to Sweet Pea’s return?

24. What is particularly attractive to Sinclair about a woman who is otherwise involved? What does Trudy’s testament of his upbringing reveal about this quality? How did you react to Trudy’s manipulation of his weakness for another man’s woman?

25. From where does Trudy’s opposition to the amniocentesis stem? Discuss the potential outcome of the novel had she gone ahead with the procedure. Do you think it is better or worse for future parents to preemptively discover abnormalities in their unborn children?

26. Trudy’s treasures are literally another man’s trash. How does being a pack-rat enable her to view potential beauty in ordinary objects? And how does this compare to Hillary’s refined taste?