Pivotal Book CLub

A magnificent new novel by Richard Powers, his first novel since the Booker Prize-shortlisted, Pulitzer Prize-winning The Overstory.

Picked as one of the 'Best Books of 2021' in the Sunday Times

An astrobiologist thinks of a creative way to help his rare and troubled son in Richard Powers’ deeply moving and brilliantly original novel.

Theo Byrne is an astrobiologist. He is also the widowed father of a most unusual nine-year-old. Robin is loving, funny and full of plans to save the world. He is also about to be expelled, for smashing his friend’s face in with a metal thermos.

What can a father do, when the only solution offered is to put his boy on psychoactive drugs? What can he say, when his boy asks why we are destroying the world? The only thing to do is to take the boy to other planets, while helping him to save this one.

Meet the Author:

Richard Powers

The astrobiology and neuroscience in Bewilderment – two fields undergoing rapid and dramatic revolutions – are really ways into much older and more intimate human passions

The Overstory, shortlisted in 2018, won the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, among other honours.

Powers says he is partially indebted to Booker-winner Margaret Atwood for his 2021-shortlisted novel Bewilderment, which explores the anxiety of family life on a damaged planet.

He lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and is currently delving into ‘what social media, deep learning, hidden algorithms, and surprisingly intelligent marine creatures have to do with one another.’

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For years, rumours of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

 

Book Club Discussion Questions.

 

Before becoming a New York Times bestselling novelist, Delia Owens was a zoologist. She’s written three nonfiction books with her former husband Mark Owens about her experiences with animals. How do the themes of this novel and Owens’s style of writing reflect her interests and work with animals?

How realistic is Kya’s upbringing in the marsh? Do you believe she really could have made it out there on her own?

Discuss the series of events that led to Kya living alone in the marsh. Why do you think Kya’s mother leaves in the beginning? Do you agree with her decision?

For much of the novel, we don’t know why Kya’s mother left and never returned. Why did you think she left at first? Can you forgive her for not later rescuing the children? Why or why not?

What did you think about Jodie’s revelation about their mom? What did it reveal about the differences between Kya and her mom? Were you surprised when Jodie came back?

Who failed her, and who was there for her? Were there better choices that could have been made?

Trust is a key theme that runs through the book. For example, Kya's brother Jodie told Kya to give Tate another chance, as he was only a young man when he first abandoned her and broke her trust? Was he right to do this?

Tate supports Kya throughout the murder trial. He seems unquestioningly accept all the evidence that points to her innocence and he is very surprised, at the end of her book to read her poem Fireflies. Do you think, though, that he ever thought her guilty and if so would it have stopped them from making a life together?

The North Carolina marsh where Kya lives has long been a sanctuary for outsiders. How does this setting shape the novel? How does growing up in this isolation affect Kya? In what ways does her status as an "outsider" change how others see her?

In interviews, Delia Owens has said she wrote this book about feeling alone. How is that expressed in the novel?

In various biographies, including Delia Owen's own website, it is told that Owen's mother, also an outside-girl, encouraged Delia to explore far into the oak forests, saying “Go way out yonder where the crawdads sing.” What does this mean? In what ways have your own mothers been encouraging influences in your lives?

Could you survive living alone and having to provide your own food and shelter with very limited external resources available? How self-sufficient are you?

When reading reviews of Where the Crawdads Sing it is interesting to make parallels to Delia Owen's own life. Do you think having biographical or contextual information about an author or text adds or detracts from the reading of fiction?

Throughout the novel, there are two men who play a major role in Kya’s life: Chase and Tate. How would you compare these two characters? Is Chase a different kind of man than Tate? How are they different? Is one man better? Do you think that their differences are biological or learned? How does Kya see each man?

And while we can talk about how they’re different, it might also be interesting to discuss how they’re similar. What do these men, together and separately, represent in Kya’s life?

Contrast Kya’s relationships with Chase and Tate. What do each of them offer her, and what does she represent to them?

Discuss Kya’s relationship with Tate. How does Tate’s understanding of Kya change over time? Is Tate a good partner for Kya? Why or why not? Why do you think Tate was always drawn to Kya? What did he see in her that others didn’t? Was she a conquest or do you think she was something more to him at first?

When Tate went to college and came back, he couldn’t see a life with Kya. Let’s talk about why he thought this and the actions behind his decision.

Speaking of characters who play important roles in Kya’s life, how did you feel about Jumpin’ and Mabel? What is Kya’s relationship like with Jumpin’ and Mabel? Why are they drawn to Kya — and what do they have to offer her? Are they parental figures for Kya, or something else? How did they influence the person she becomes, if at all? How did they help her survive? What do they teach her about the world? Why do you think they didn’t turn her in to social services, knowing that she lived alone as a child? Do you agree with that decision to protect Kya from social services (p. 110) and to encourage her to live alone in the marsh? Why or why not?

Kya learns about human nature and how to relate to other people mostly through observing animals. Most notably, Kya observes female fireflies changing their flashes to communicate different things. What does this realization mean to Kya? How does this observation affect Kya’s relationship with others? How does this lesson influence Kya’s decisions in the second half of the novel? What about her other observations of nature? In what ways do they affect who she is and how she interacts with the world around her? Do you think these lessons adequately prepare her for life in Barkley Cove? Do you think human society follows the same rules as the natural world? Should it? Why or why not?

Kya seeks comfort from nature and animals throughout the story. Do you think if she hadn't lived alone she would have still have had such affinity with nature?

When Kya is on trial she knows that she may be facing the 'death sentence'. However, she is far more afraid of being locked up in prison for years than dying. Discuss why this is the case.

By the end of the novel, Kya has come to realize…

Most of what she knew, she’d learned from the wild. Nature had nurtured, tutored, and protected her when no one else would. If consequences resulted from her behaving differently, then they too were functions of life’s fundamental core

What does she mean? Do you agree with her philosophy? What do you think it means to be a good person? Do you think Kya is a good person? Why or why not?

Poetry is a very important element of this novel. In fact, it’s a major point of connection for Tate and Kya. Tate’s father tells him that poems are important because "they make ya feel something" (p. 48). What does poetry mean to Tate? What does it mean to Kya? Were you surprised when Kya was a secret poet?

What does the poetry throughout the novel add to the narrative?  How does poetry help Kya throughout the novel?

Kya is judged throughout her entire life: as a child, she’s the dirty, uneducated marsh girl and then as an adult, she’s the odd and wild thing in the marsh. Instead of trying to help her as a child, the locals turned their backs on her and left her alone. How did this impact the later trial case? What role did guilt play in it? Did the people of Barkley Cove owe anything to Kya?

Considering her treatment and the way the town sees her, how did you feel about the results of the court case? Was it satisfying? Believable?

Do you think Tate made the right decision? Why?

Once Kya was arrested, did you think she was going to be convicted? Were you surprised at the outcome? Were you surprised she never told the truth to Tate? Why do you think she did kill Chase? Did that change your opinion of Kya? The ending of Where the Crawdad's Sing brings a surprising twist as we learn that Kya is actually the local poet Amanda Hamilton. We discover that her husband had no idea about this. Do you think it is ok to have 'big secrets' from your partner?

Why doesn't Delia Owens share with us Kya's secrets until the end of the novel? How did this make you feel as a reader? Did you admire Owen's writing skills or did you feel duped by her and Kya?

How does the North Carolina marsh setting shape the story? In what ways does the setting seem like another character in the novel?

There’s so many vivid descriptions of life in the marsh. What are some of the descriptions that stuck out to you the most?

How did you feel about Kya’s decision not to return to school? Why does Kya choose not to go back to school?

Do you think she makes the wrong decision? How does Kya’s lack of formal education shape her vision of the world? Would her character or her life be different if she had gone to school?

Which characters had the biggest influence on Kya? On whose lives did she make the biggest impact?

One more question about connection with other characters: there is a palpable lack of women in Kya’s life. At the beginning of the novel, Kya’s mother leaves. Kya doesn’t have any female friendships to speak of. Would Kya’s story be different has she women in her life? If so, how?

What does Kya learn by watching the girls in Barkley Cove? Why do you think she keeps her watching secret? Do you agree with Kya’s secrecy? How is her idea of womanhood influenced by her observations and by her life in the marsh? How is womanhood explored throughout the novel? What does being a woman mean to Kya? How does she relate to the other women in Barkley Cove?

For a while Kya is drawn to a fake fantasy that she could be (for want of a better phrase) one of the 'cool kids' getting along with Chase's gang of friends. Have you ever longed for something that is unobtainable?​

Do you see Kya as a victim? Why or why not? How did your opinion of her change over the course of the book?

What did the title, Where the Crawdads Sing, mean to you before and after you read the book?

There are many villians in Where the Crawdads Sing,but only one murderer. Discuss.

The ease with which Kya learns to read seems almost unbelievable? Were there any other parts of Where the Crawdads Sing that you found unbelievable? Did this spoil the story for you?

Why does Owens tell the reader that Tate never really enjoyed Amanda Hamilton's story?

Who would you cast in the key roles for the movie version of Where the Crawdads Sing?

Racial segration is a secondary theme in Where the Crawdads Sing.How convincing is the portrayal of Kya's relationship with Jumini and Mabel?

It has been said that Where the Crawdads Sing is similar to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Why would someone make this claim? Do you think it is a fair statement to make?

For most of the novel, the chapters alternate between Kya’s upbringing and the murder mystery. What did you think about the balance between the two?

What’s your journey of becoming? Based on Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir, this gorgeous journal features an intimate and inspiring introduction by the former First Lady and more than 150 inspiring questions and quotes to help you discover—and rediscover—your story.
 
“It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about where you get yourself in the end. There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice. And there’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.” —Michelle Obama
 
In writing Becoming, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama shared her own extraordinary journey to help create space for others to tell their stories and to give people the courage to discover the power of their own voice. With this journal, she now provides you with the encouragement to find value in your own personal journey of becoming. Printed on cream writing paper, with a grosgrain ribbon, foil-stamped cover, and removable half-jacket, Becoming: A Guided Journal for Discovering Your Voice includes thought-provoking prompts designed to help you reflect on your personal and family history; your goals, challenges, and dreams; what moves you and brings you hope; and what future you imagine for yourself and your community. Writes Mrs. Obama in the Introduction to the Becoming journal, “I hope you’ll use this journal to write down your experiences, thoughts, and feelings, in all their imperfections, and without judgment. . . . We don’t have to remember everything. But everything we remember has value.”
 
These pages will help you capture your own voice and journey so you can nurture your sense of belonging. Inside, you’ll find an opportunity not only to take heart in the experiences that brought you to where you are today, but also to feel empowered to take those next steps, wherever they might lead.

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After losing his job in the Department of Transportation, where he had been a long-valued employee, 63-year-old Remington Alabaster finds himself in need of a new purpose.
When he informs his wife, Serenata, that he intends to run a marathon some months hence, she is immediately dismissive. Until now, Serenata has been the runner and fitness fanatic in the family. But arthritic knees have forced her to abandon running and severely restrict her exercise routine.
Despite her opposition, Remington takes to his training regime with the zeal of a religious convert, while Serenata clings to the hope that his obsession will end once the marathon is over. That hope is crushed when Remington hobbles over the finish line and announces his new goal to compete in the MettleMan, an ultra-triathlon that pushes endurance beyond normal limits and tests his aging body and their marriage.

From the Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin

Allergic to group activities of any kind, all her life Serenata has run, swum, and cycled – on her lonesome. But now that she's hit 60, all that physical activity has destroyed her knees. As she contemplates surgery with dread, her previously sedentary husband Remington, recently and ignominiously redundant, chooses this precise moment to discover exercise.

Which should be good for his health, right? Yet as he joins the cult of fitness that seems increasingly to consume the whole of the Western world, her once-modest husband burgeons into an unbearable narcissist. Ignoring all his other obligations in the service of extreme sport, he engages a saucy, taunting personal trainer named Bambi, who treats his wife with contempt. When Remington announces his intention to compete in a legendarily gruelling triathlon, MettleMan, Serenata is sure he's going to end up injured or dead – but the stubbornness of an ageing man in Lycra is not to be underestimated.

The story of an obsession, of a marriage, of a betrayal: The Motion of the Body Through Space is Lionel Shriver at her hilarious, sharp-eyed, audacious best.

VERDICT As she has done before in novels such as We Need To Talk About Kevin, Shriver takes on hot-button topics—in this case the fitness craze, toxic workplaces, the tyranny of political correctness, and the indignities of aging

The widely adopted, now-classic book on influence and persuasion-a major national and international bestseller with more than four million copies sold!

In this highly acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Dr. Robert B. Cialdini-the seminal expert in the field of influence and persuasion-explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these principles ethically in business and everyday situations.

You'll learn the six universal principles of influence and how to use them to become a skilled persuader-and, just as importantly, how to defend yourself against dishonest influence attempts:

 

  • Reciprocation: The internal pull to repay what another person has provided us.
  • Commitment and Consistency: Once we make a choice or take a stand, we work to behave consistently with that commitment in order to justify our decisions.
  • Social Proof: When we are unsure, we look to similar others to provide us with the correct actions to take. And the more, people undertaking that action, the more we consider that action correct.
  • Liking: The propensity to agree with people we like and, just as important, the propensity for others to agree with us, if we like them.
  • Authority: We are more likely to say “yes” to others who are authorities, who carry greater knowledge, experience or expertise.
  • Scarcity: We want more of what is less available or dwindling in availability.

 

Understanding and applying the six principles ethically is cost-free and deceptively easy. Backed by Dr. Cialdini's 35 years of evidence-based, peer-reviewed scientific research as well as by a three-year field study on what moves people to change behavior-Influence is a comprehensive guide to using these principles effectively to amplify your ability to change the behaviour of others.

Perfect for people in all walks of life, the principles of "Influence" will move you toward profound personal change and act as a driving force for your success.

 

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The compelling new novel from Jane Harper, the New York Times bestselling author of The Dry.

Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on the day a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that still haunts him resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal town he once called home...Kieran Elliott's life changed forever on a single day when a reckless mistake led to devastating consequences. The guilt that haunts him still resurfaces during a visit with his young family to the small coastal town he once called home.

Kieran's parents are struggling in a community which is bound, for better or worse, to the sea that is both a lifeline and a threat. Between them all is his absent brother Finn.

When a body is discovered on the beach, long-held secrets threaten to emerge in the murder investigation that follows. A sunken wreck, a missing girl, and questions that have never washed away...

Praise for Jane Harper:

'Queen of outback noir' Sunday Times

'Harper has a fine gift for making her readers comfortable in inhospitable territory - psychological as well as physical' Daily Telegraph

'Powerful, intriguing and recommended . . . Harper is wonderful at evoking fear and unease' The Times

 

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What if Elizabeth Macarthur-wife of the notorious John Macarthur, wool baron in the earliest days of Sydney-had written a shockingly frank secret memoir? And what if novelist Kate Grenville had miraculously found and published it? That's the starting point for A Room Made of Leaves, a playful dance of possibilities between the real and the invented.

Marriage to a ruthless bully, the impulses of her heart, the search for power in a society that gave women none- this Elizabeth Macarthur manages her complicated life with spirit and passion, cunning and sly wit. Her memoir lets us hear-at last!-what one of those seemingly demure women from history might really have thought.

At the centre of A Room Made of Leaves is one of the most toxic issues of our own age- the seductive appeal of false stories. This book may be set in the past, but it's just as much about the present, where secrets and lies have the dangerous power to shape reality.

Kate Grenville's return to the territory of The Secret River is historical fiction turned inside out, a stunning sleight of hand by one of our most original writers.

 

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The bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe, Trent Dalton returns with All Our Shimmering Skies - a glorious novel destined to become another Australian classic.

Darwin, 1942, and as Japanese bombs rain down, motherless Molly Hook, the gravedigger's daughter, is looking to the skies and running for her life. Inside a duffel bag, she carries a stone heart, alongside a map to lead her to Longcoat Bob, the deep-country sorcerer who she believes put a curse on her family. By her side are the most unlikely travelling companions: Greta, a razor-tongued actress and Yukio, a fallen Japanese fighter pilot. The treasure lies before them, but close behind them trails the dark. And above them, always, are the shimmering skies.

'Run, Molly, run,' says the daytime sky. Run to the vine forests. Run to northern Australia's wild and magical monsoon lands. Run to friendship. Run to love. Run. Because the graverobber's coming, Molly, and the night-time sky is coming with him. So run, Molly, run.

A story about gifts that fall from the sky, curses we dig from the earth and the secrets we bury inside ourselves, All Our Shimmering Skies is an odyssey of true love and grave danger, of darkness and light, of bones and blue skies. It is a love letter to Australia and an ode to the art of looking up - a buoyant, beautiful and magical novel, abrim with warmth, wit and wonder.

'All Our Shimmering Skies is the follow-up to Boy Swallows Universe we could have never imagined, but the one Dalton was destined to gift us. It's a story of heroes and villains, foxes and water buffalo, fighter planes and birds of prey, real magic and real love, epitaphs and aphorisms, lost treasure and lost life. It's a love letter to the nation. It's your favourite childhood adventure story dictated by Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman and William Shakespeare, with a score by Franz Liszt. It's dead serious. It's completely ridiculous. It's all of these things and more.' Booktopia

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