This book tells a life story from the other sister’s perspective, raised only by her father. The details of both sisters were indeed parallel to one another as they grew up in the same city of Cincinnati, one living on the west side and the other on the east side.
Major Spoiler Alert: These questions reveal many details from Parallel and Separate.
1. What was your reaction to Janet’s insistence that her side of the story be told?
2. Does your impression of Duke Philip match his reputation as “magnanimous”?
3. If you were Caspar Disser in Germany, would you want to emigrate to America?
4. Did Sam Disser have a normal childhood?
1. Was the marriage of Sam and May a matter of convenience?
2. Clarissa was blessed to be adopted by her aunt and uncle and loved by her
cousin John. Was that a conventional family environment?
3. What predictions did you make for Sam Jr. and Clarissa?
4. Which of the parents would you agree with when Sam Jr. and Clarissa
announced they had eloped – Sam Sr. and May or Aunt Louisa and Uncle John?
1. Did Sam Jr.’s illness come as a surprise to you? If not, why not?
2. How did Sam Sr.’s financial situation impact Sam Jr. and Clarissa?
1. Was separation necessary?
2. Who suffered the most from separation?
Both Janet and Shirley believe they had the worst childhood. Why?
Which marriage was more impactful to the sisters – Claire and Cecil or Sam Jr.
and Elizabeth?
1. Can you identify similarities between Laura’s and Claire’s childhoods?
2. What ending would you write for the reunion of Shirley and Janet?
