Portion of the Sea
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8. JOY. Dahlia believes joy is an abundant and limitless natural resource within every woman and that whenever it feels scarce, all she must do is tap into it. Ava believes joy is found outdoors and she hopes to collect some as she leaves behind her chores for the day and voyages out alone. Did she find any? Where do you believe joy is found?
9. THE GLISTENING STEPS A WOMAN TAKES FOR HERSELF. The novel makes frequent references to glistening water and glistening pathways. What do these glistening pathways represent in relation to the character’s steps they must take to live their own lives? What sorts of glistening steps have you taken, or are you thinking of taking for yourself?
10. A STRONG WOMAN. If you asked Lydia what it meant to be a strong woman, what do you think she’d say? Does Lydia take the idea of being a strong woman too far when she wouldn’t let Ethan know of her financial struggles? Is asking a man or God for help a sign of weakness? Is surrendering the stronger thing to do?
11. HEARTACHE. According to Ava, what happens when a woman loses her heart? What happened to Lydia when she lost her heart?
12. PARALLEL LIVES. How does Lydia’s life parallel Ava’s? How did you respond to reading the parallel lives? Did you at times get confused between the two characters? Did you like the overlap?
13. LEGACIES. What can mothers pass on to their children? Or women pass on to the next generation?
14. ROWING OUT TO YOUR OWN PORTION OF THE SEA. What do you think it means for a woman to pick up her paddles and row out to her very own portion of the sea?
CHRISTINE LEMMON is author of three inspiring novels — Sanibel Scribbles, Portion of the Sea, Sand in My Eyes, and the gift book Whisper from the Ocean. She has worked as an on-air host for a National Public Radio affiliate, business magazine editor, and publicist for a non-fiction publishing house.
She lives with her husband and three children on Sanibel Island, the setting of her three novels.
VISIT CHRISTINELEMMON.COM