The Night Garden by Lisa Van Allen

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What is The Night Garden About?

Nestled in the bucolic town of Green Valley in upstate New York, the Pennywort farm appears ordinary, yet at its center lies something remarkable: a wild maze of colorful gardens that reaches beyond the imagination.

Local legend says that a visitor can gain answers to life’s most difficult problems simply by walking through its lush corridors.
 
Yet the labyrinth has never helped Olivia Pennywort, the garden’s beautiful and enigmatic caretaker. She has spent her entire life on her family’s land, harboring a secret that forces her to keep everyone at arm’s length.

But when her childhood best friend, Sam Van Winkle, returns to the valley, Olivia begins to question her safe, isolated world and wonders if she at last has the courage to let someone in.

As she and Sam reconnect, Olivia faces a difficult question: Is the garden maze that she has nurtured all of her life a safe haven or a prison?

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I believe the best book club questions to spark a lively discussion in your group help readers make personal connections to the story.

You can read about how to write the best book club questions on your own here, but hopefully these will get you started!

Question 1:

What did you think of the pick? Is it something you would have chosen for yourself or a new-to-you genre?

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Question 2:

The families of Green Valley each seem to have a different magical power or family legacy.

If you could assign a similar power to your family line, what would it be?

See the online discussion here.

Question 3:

A central theme in the novel is temptation, the idea of desperately wanting what we know may be bad for us or others.

How do you think it is best to deal with temptation? Is it ever ok to give in?

See the online discussion here.

Question 4:

Arthur was completely against 'the concert' when it came to town.

He realized after meeting Alice in the barn afterward it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Have you ever had a strong opinion of something only to completely change your mind afterwards?

See the online discussion here.

Question 5:

Gloria was into everyone's business and was sure her way was THE best way. How have you handled people like that in your life?

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Question 6:

Sam's condition causes him to lose all sensation of touch.

Which loss of sensation do you think you would find most jarring: the ability to feel hot/cold, textures, pain, or the ability to taste?

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Question 7:

Olivia accuses Sam of trying to change who she is and for not loving her as she is.

Did you feel Sam was being selfish or was he trying to help? What would you have done in his shoes?

See the online discussion here.

Question 8:

If you had Olivia's condition, which do you think would be more difficult to bear: the loss of human contact or the loss of female friendships?

Could Olivia have developed true friends despite her condition?

See the online discussion here.

Question 9:

Arthur warns Olivia that to find love will to be to experience great loss. Who was he trying to protect, Olivia or himself?

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Question 10:

The description of the Pennywort maze and gardens reminded me so much of the Chicago Botanic Garden where I spent countless hours with my girls as babies.

Do you have a botanic garden near you? Which of the Pennywort gardens would you most like to see or is there one that you would love to add to their collection?

See the online discussion here.