A series of five questions for book clubs to use while discussing Madeleine L'Engle's novel.
Create Discussion in your book club by asking the following questions:
1.) When Polly O’Keefe moves to Benne Seed Island with her family she quickly finds that she doesn’t fit in well with other people her age. As a result, her friendship with Max blossoms quickly. Polly reflects that “Through Max’s eyes I saw more than I’d ever seen before.”
Have you ever had a relationship that opened your eyes to more of life than you thought possible? Was that relationship platonic? Do you think Max’s feelings towards Polly are strictly platonic?
2.) When in Athens, Polly meets and becomes friends with Zachary Gray. Zachary is a rich, spoiled, selfish, American. Zachary’s carelessness nearly costs Polly her life and yet he doesn’t realize the value of her life. When accosted by delegates who have become close friends with Polly he says that he will pay for the kayak. Omio responds by asking “And could you have paid for Polly’s life? Do you know if I had been five minutes later you’d both have been dead? Would you have made everything right by paying for the funeral?”
Why do you think Zachary is interested in Polly? Is his interest loving or selfish? How does his treatment of Polly compare to Polly’s treatment by Max? Renny? Omio?
What is the value of life? Which character do you think values life more? Max, Renny, Omio?
3.) Near the beginning of the book Polly describes Beau Allaire, the home of Max, and compares it to her own home. Beau Allaire is a large, richly appointed house built in the Greek revival style. Polly’s home is large too. Her parent’s repurposed and repaired a falling down motel. Polly says that her house was comfortable and informal compared to the formality of Max’s home.
Why do you think L’Engle spent so much time describing the homes? How do the homes reflect their occupants? Do you think there is any symbolism in the type of homes they live in or are their homes simply a function of their station in life?
4.) Polly describe Sandy as being her favorite uncle. Sandy seems to hold Polly in special favor too. He and his wife are scheduled to meet Polly in Athens and spend a few days with her before she goes to the conference. However, they are delayed. He lets his twin brother know but not his parents. Dennys calls Polly and she asks him not to tell Mother and Daddy. He replies, “Never fear. Sandy’s already made me promise. Strikes me he’s being more protective of them than he is of you.”
Why do you think Sandy is Polly’s favorite uncle? Are there any clues in the story? Do you think Sandy is wise to allow Polly some freedom and to protect his parents? Should Sandy tell his parents and make sure that someone gets to Polly immediately? Why do you think Sandy protects Polly’s privacy and allows her to be an adult in an unsafe situation?
5.) When Renny starts dating Polly he is a intern at the hospital and she is sixteen-years-old. Polly describes Renny after her first date with him “That was Renny, and I liked him, as the older brother I’d always wanted, even if I got a little tired of tropical medicine.”
However, when Renny rescues Polly after she flees Max they have intercourse and Polly loses her virginity. Renny is full of remorse because he is older than Polly and feels responsible for her and feels that he broke that trust. He warns her “Sweet Polly, what happened between us mustn’t happen again. It mustn’t happen with you at all, not with me, not with anybody until you’re older and ready to make a real commitment.”
Why do you think they had intercourse at such a traumatic time in Polly’s life. Was Renny irresponsible? In other writings, L’Engle describes sex as an affirmation of life. Do you think it served that purpose at this occasion?
More Articles about A House Like a Lotus
A review of the novel.
An essay on compassion in the novel.
Other Novels by Madeleine L’Engle
Read an essay about the grace and forgiveness found in L’Engle’s novel Certain Women.
