Blessed Are the Wholly Broken (21 page)

In the Prologue, Phillip begins telling us his story by saying, “By the end, even I knew I was a monster, not for the reasons they cited—not because I had killed my wife—but because I didn’t save her sooner.”  What does he mean by this? Do you agree with his summation?

Phillip’s father refers to Brian as a “man’s man,” and Phillip states he understands exactly what his father means, because he knows in his father’s opinion, he’s not. What do you think Phillip’s father means? Why would Phillip not fit the stereotype?

At one point Phillip states that Anna’s “Zen-like peacefulness” was something he initially admired, but ultimately hated. Why does he feel this way?

Anna frequently discusses Cathy’s cruelty. Is this because she’s afraid Cathy will do something to hurt her family, or because Anna is afraid she, too, might have the potential to become cruel?

Phillip states openly that he chose denial as a coping mechanism. How did this ultimately contribute to the destruction of his family? Had he been honest with Anna and himself, might things have turned out differently?

At one point, Brian tells Phillip, “You have your faults. You can be too rigid, too uptight, even a little self-centered.” Do you agree with Brian’s assessment of Phillip? 

On one of their frequent camping trips, Brian poses the question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”  Anna responds, “That’s a pointless question,” explaining that life is impossible to map out so precisely because nothing is certain. Brian tells her she’s pessimistic, but she disagrees. What do you think of Anna’s points?  Does she seem pessimistic, or simply realistic?

Several possible motives for Anna’s actions towards Peter are discussed. She reports a family history of criminality. Mental illness is also discussed, as is postpartum depression and psychosis. What do you believe ultimately caused Anna’s breakdown?

Phillip believes Anna knew she was unwell and tried to warn him. Do you agree? Should she/could she have done more?

When Phillip expresses guilt at not having helped Anna, Brian tells him Anna was responsible for her own decisions and that Phillip is not as “powerful” as he thinks he is. What does he mean by this?

Phillip’s story concludes when Brian fulfills his final wish, having said to him, “Has it ever occurred to you, have you ever once thought maybe it wasn’t just Anna I stuck around for?”  What is your interpretation of that statement? Does it change your perception of Brian?  

Appalachian Justice
, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 1

Return to Crutcher Mountain
, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 2

Entangled Thorns
, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 3

Shadow Days
, Cedar Hollow Series, Book 4

Self-publishing Made Simple:  A How-to Guide for the Non-tech-savvy Among Us

Melinda Clayton is the author of
Appalachian Justice
,
Return to Crutcher Mountain
,
Entangled Thorns
, and
Blessed Are the Wholly Broken
. Melinda has published numerous articles and short stories in various print and online magazines. In addition to writing, she has an Ed.D. in Special Education Administration and is a licensed psychotherapist in the states of Florida and Colorado.