Fill the Sky (Sherbrooke) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. Given the state of her health when the novel opens, do you think Ellie is being resourceful or reckless in choosing to go to Ecuador? Do you think Ellie survives?

2. The book opens with the Einstein quote “Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” How did nature help these characters understand themselves better? Were there particular elements of nature that you found particularly significant?

3. What do you think of the method of Parker’s proposal? It is characterized differently by each of the three friends as: “smart,” “bold,” and “cowardly.” What do you think?

4. Before Ellie’s ultimate epiphany, did you think Ellie should tell David about Gavin? Why or why not?

5. Joline is both friend and sister-in-law to Ellie. Which did you think Joline felt the weight of more in dealing with Ellie’s infidelity?

6. How was Chi-Chi important to the story and Tess’s personal journey?

7. In Mama Rosita’s ceremony with Bryce, she uses her foreknowledge of his yellow dock to manipulate the situation. What do you think of that?

8. On their last night in Ecuador, Marco tells Tess that Mama Rosita had a vision of “one more rock” that she worked to dislodge from Ellie’s “river.” What do you think that rock represents?

9. What is the key lesson each woman learns about herself over the course of the week? Who changes the most?

10. All three women are in their mid-forties at the time of the story. Do you think being in their middle years had any particular impact on their experience in Ecuador?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)

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