VinnieCarla Agnello. Outof the. Blue. Book Group Discussion Guide. Amore Press New York, New York

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2 VinnieCarla Agnello Outof the Blue Book Group Discussion Guide Amore Press New York, New York

3 Special offer to book club members Receive 50% off the book s list price on Amazon. At checkout, use discount code KM8GQH82 and save. We invite your book club members to join the open discussion on Goodreads at goodreads.com/vinniecarla.

4 Book Group Discussion Guide When we come together to read books and share stories, we learn from each other and strengthen our communities. Organized by categories, these questions serve as prompts for group discussions. If your group would like to ask VinnieCarla questions or to include her in your discussion via phone, Skype, or Google Hangouts, please contact General Questions 1. Where were you on 9/11? 2. What do you find to be the most interesting topics in the book and why? 3. Which section of the book was the most emotional to read? Why? 4. Describe VinnieCarla s strengths and weaknesses as a mother? 5. How does money affect relationships? 6. What impact did victim compensation payouts to families have on relationships in the community? 7. What role does gossip play throughout the book? 8. After reading this book, what are you personally inspired to do differently in your daily life?

5 Questions about Loss 1. How did VinnieCarla s experiences with her parents prepare her (or not) for dealing with the trauma of losing Joey? 2. As a parent, have you had an experience where you felt you could not protect your child? 3. What do you think about the way VinnieCarla talked to Sal about his father? 4. What do you think about VinnieCarla s decision not to show emotion at the funeral? 5. VinnieCarla s grief and sexual desire are intertwined. How well does she navigate the social taboos? 6. How did VinnieCarla s decision to euthanize Durante change her understanding of grief? Questions about Love 1. What details of VinnieCarla s story about meeting Joey are similar to your first meeting with someone you are (or were) involved with in a romantic relationship? 2. What did Joey s death teach VinnieCarla about love? 3. Are there aspects of this memoir that feel like a love letter to Joey? Identify the passages. Questions about Intuition 4. What part of VinnieCarla s dream experiences were most illuminating for you? 5. Do you think it was pure coincidence that VinnieCarla and John were stuck in the elevator on the second anniversay of 9/11? 6. Throughout the book, VinnieCarla s intuition appears strongest in life-threatening situations. Which situation intrigues you the most?

6 Questions about Healing 1. How has the book changed or enhanced your view of mental health issues? 2. In what ways was VinnieCarla s connection to the Virgin Mary healing? 3. How does VinnieCarla manage to walk the emotional tightrope with her mother and her in-laws? How is her strategy similar or different to your relationship tightropes? 4. What did you think about VinnieCarla s decision to contact Suze Orman? 5. VinnieCarla takes her children to Disney several times. With each visit, what healing occurs for her? Questions about Spirituality and Faith 1. Have you ever felt the energetic presence of loved ones around you? 2. Where does VinnieCarla blur the lines between praying versus bargaining with God? 3. How does VinnieCarla s relationship with God change throughout the book? 4. In the Ghost section, do you believe that Vincent really saw his father? 5. Throughout the book, VinnieCarla believes Joey s presence is with her. Do you believe this is true? Why or why not? How is her belief healing?

7 Questions about the Writer s Craft 1. Describe VinnieCarla s sense of humor. 2. VinnieCarla reveals intimate details about her feelings. Are there sections in her story where you felt it was too much information? Were there sections where you wanted more? 3. Characterize VinnieCarla s writing style. What makes her voice unique? 4. How does VinnieCarla use popular culture references to anchor her narrative? From these references, what are your strongest associations? 5. Compare and contrast this book with other memoirs you ve read about loss and recovery.