Still the One
by Robin Wells

Still the One addresses several different themes.  Here are some questions to consider as you discuss the book:

1.  FAMILY INFLUENCE

• In what ways were Zack’s life views shaped by his parents’ marriage?
  
  
• In what ways were Katie’s choices shaped by her mother’s lifestyle?
  
  
• In what ways were Gracie’s views shaped by the things her adopted mother told her about her birth mother?
   
• How did their views change over the course of the book?   How did the characters in the book influence each other?
  
  

2.  INFIDELITY

• Did the fact that Dave had a drinking problem mitigate his behavior?  Why or why not?
  
  
• How big a role did social embarrassment play in Annette’s decision to divorce Dave and leave Chartreuse?  Was that a valid reason? 
  
  
• Which was a bigger wrong:  Dave cheating on Annette, or Annette’s unwillingness to forgive him?
  
  
• Does forgiveness of an infidelity mean that the wronged spouse should always take back the straying spouse?  Why or why not?
  
  
•  Katie felt that loving Zack was somehow a betrayal of her love for Paul.  Why do you think she felt this way?

 

3.  AMBIVALENCE

• Gracie had ambivalent feelings about the baby when she was pregnant.   Do you agree with her decision to keep the baby instead of giving it up for adoption?   Why or why not?
  
  
• Was Katie wrong to encourage Gracie to keep the baby?  Do you think she  was influenced by her own regrets or by her desire to help Gracie raise the baby?   If so, were those selfish or loving motives?

 

4.  CHANGE

•  Dave’s heart attack was a moment of awakening for Annette.   The birth of Gracie’s baby was a break-through moment for Zack. 
  
  
•  Do you believe that a life event can profoundly change a person?   Why or why not?
  
  
• Are these changes permanent, or do people usually revert to their old ways?
  
  
• Have you ever had a profound life experience that changed a core belief or made you take your life in a new direction?

 

5.  FORGIVENESS

•  Annette needed to forgive Dave’s infidelity and his lack of time and attention when they were married.  What did Dave need to forgive Annette for?
  
  
• Who did Gracie need to forgive?
  
  
• Zack and Katie needed to forgive each other.  Who else did they need to forgive?
  
  
• Does the father of Gracie’s baby deserve forgiveness?  Are some things unforgivable?   Why or why not?

 

6.  LETTING GO

• All of the characters in the book let go of something-- emotions, objects, beliefs, habits, etc.  Name the things that each had to let go of in order to gain the things they wanted:

            Katie
            Zack
            Gracie
            Annette
            Dave

•  What things have you let go of in your life?  Is there anything that you need to     release in order to move forward?