Still Point of the Turning World (Rapp) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. A topic Rapp discusses is the idea of wellness versus health—what is the difference between the two? Do you believe we tend to associate wellness with wholeness, and is this a fallacy?

2. In making decisions for Ronan’s palliative care, Rapp brings up the case of Baby Joseph and contends that the concept of life’s "value" should be replaced with the word "quality." What is the difference between the "value of life" and the "quality of life" and what do you think we prioritize in contemporary society?

3. Rapp refers to her and the other mothers of children with Tay-Sachs as "Dragon Mothers." What are the characteristics of a Dragon Mother and how do their priorities differ from those of other mothers?

4. In the days after Ronan’s diagnosis, Rapp has trouble with the one activity that she has always found solace in—reading. She can’t find any solace in books until she picks up a collection of myths. What about myths does Rapp find so appealing? How do they differ from the other forms of literature she discusses throughout the book?

5. At one point Rapp tells her husband, Rick, "It’s as if there’s another baby right behind this baby, and we’ll never get to meet him" (p. 75). What does she mean by this? And how does she reconcile this feeling with the baby she does have?

6. How is Ronan described in The Still Point of the Turning World? What language does Rapp use to describe him? What are the challenges of writing a portrait of a person without language? Does Rapp overcome them or embrace them?

7. Rapp writes that traditional parenting guides are of no help when it comes to being a mother to Ronan and in the end the only guide was her imagination (p. 176). What does this mean? In what ways do we see Rapp using her imagination as a guide throughout her memoir?

8. What are some examples of how Rapp’s own disability (the loss of her leg) teaches her how to be a mother to Ronan?

9. On page 54, Rapp suggests that there is a leap "from experience to meaning" and that we often let other people make it for us. What is the benefit of making this leap on our own, as Ronan must?

10. What is the role of Rapp’s husband, Rick, in the narrative? What are some moments in the memoir where Rapp describes their partnership? Would you say that they go through this experience alone, together, or both?

11. At one point, Rapp and her husband visit an animal hospice with Ronan. How does Rapp compare Ronan’s experience of life with those of the animals?

12. What is Rapp’s opinion of "future-focused" parenting?

13. With all the vocabulary at her disposal, why is the single, simple word "Gee" so meaningful to Rapp? (Questions issued by the publisher.)

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