“Immensely lyrical and moving . . . a powerful display of Cathie Borrie’s talent as a writer.”
Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo
A beautifully written meditation on memory loss, suffering, hope and love.
Jed Levine, Alzheimer’s Association, NYC
An economy of words and wealth of style that puts the literary into the emerging genre of AlzLit.
Henry Brodaty, Director, Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, Australia
A raw and exquisite dance of two minds . . . a breakthrough of a book.
Lynn Jackson, Diagnosed with early-stage dementia.
A penetrating investigation into the mysteries of the mind and how it recoils and resurrects, revokes and reveals . . . This is a narrative for everyone interested in the mind and how it shapes our perception of “reality” ─in and outside of the dementia experience.
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Book Club
The Long Hello
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSIONS
I love attending Book Club discussions of my work, both in person or on Skype. I have compiled questions based on several sources: online resources, a North Vancouver Book Club (Tara McGuire & members), and as suggested by Dale Carter http://www.transitionagingparents.com/ and 32 Books (www.32books.com). The following questions are divided into two parts – questions if I am part of the discussion, and questions if I am not. I hope this is useful. For information on purchasing (paperback, eBook, audio book) see: www.cathieborrie.com
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Cathie Borrie Book club Questions (pdf) 
Questions when Cathie is part of the discussion:
- Can you share what inspired you to write your book in its very powerful format? What do you call that format?
- You have had varied careers in nursing, law, and theatre. How did your life experiences prepare you for caring for and being there with your mother?
- You met your mother in her reality. You let her lead in conversations. You were curious like a child. Why was this approach important to you and your mother?
- There were several things that seemed to be powerful and uplifting to your mother: the sea, nature, music. What was it about those things that helped quiet the confusion and loss your mother was feeling?
- The story about your brother was heart wrenching. Why did you decide to tell us about this and how hard was it to write about it? Was it therapeutic in any way?
- You wrote your book from such a positive point of view, where did you find the strength to write about your experience with caregiving in this way?
- You talk about how families and friends started to write your mother off. Unfortunately this is common. Were there ways you kept her friends and family visiting and engaged?
- It seemed that even in the midst of this very difficult time of caregiving and health issues for your mother, you saw this time as a gift. What was there about this time as a caregiver that added richness to your life?
- Looking back on your journey with your mother, what do you treasure most? Do you have any regrets?
- What do you hope people will take away from your book? People with Alzheimer’s? Caregivers, professionals?
Questions when Cathie is not part of the discussion:
- What do you think was the main theme of the book?
- Did the author use first or third person perspective? Did this choice work?
- How did the book reflect your own life experiences?
- Was the setting an integral part of the story?
- Did you think the author’s style and tone were well matched to the narrative?
- Was there strong use of symbolism? How did it affect your interpretation of the story?
- Would you read another book by this author? Why or why not?
- What passage from the book stood out to you?
- Are there situations and/or characters you can identify with, if so how?
- Did you learn something you didn’t know before?
- Do you feel as if your views on a subject have changed by reading this text?
- Have you had a life changing revelation from reading this text?
- What major emotion did the story evoke in you as a reader?
- At what point in the book did you decide if you liked it or not? What helped make this decision?
- Name your favorite thing overall about the book. Your least favorite?
- If you could change something about the book what would it be, and why?
- Describe what you liked or disliked about the writer’s style?
