Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place

The transformation of Penelope Brigid Goode begins after a near-death experience on her 30th birthday while skiing on a mountain in Maine. She wakes up in recovery and the world around her is more vibrant, vivid, and intense. Strange visions begin to creep up on her like a dream—the spirits of her recently deceased dog and the mother she hardly knew. Ghost owls cast shadows of premonition.

When the number three occurs and reoccurs, Pennie fears for her sanity, especially while she and her uncle survey a graveyard near the former Home for the Feeble-Minded. Here she senses her first vibrations—spirits of the Malaga Island settlement reinterred on these very grounds after a forced exile over a century ago by the State of Maine, a chapter of racism and eugenics in Maine’s history.

Despite warning signs and against her best instincts, she rushes headlong into a relationship with the developer who is excavating near the graves. She begins to realize the signs all around her, listen to her intuition, and awaken to her visions. Through a slow unearthing, Pennie uncovers the past and recognizes the power of her dreams, the haunting history of Malaga Island, and her fight for justice and the truth.

Discussion questions provided by the publisher, DartFrog Books.

Book club questions for Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place by Amy Safford

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

In the Forward, tribal historian Maria Girouard asks, “How does the land feel when suddenly the people who once belonged to that place are gone?” Do you agree there is a lasting connection between people and place? Can you think of any personal experiences that connect you to a place?

The title refers to “the Wresting Place.” What is the significance of the title?

The protagonist, Penelope or “Pennie” Goode, is struggling with making good decisions throughout the novel, personally and professionally. Do you think she experiences a transformation by the end of the novel? Is so, how has she changed?

Pennie sees herself as an outsider in the family dynamic with her aunt and uncle and her cousin, Tita. Do you think Pennie is a reliable narrator of her own life? Why or why not?

Uncle Alfie is the mentor archetype, providing wisdom, guidance and support to Pennie. Does he help Pennie develop her own instincts and abilities? If so, how does he do this and why?

Pennie becomes entangled in a romantic relationship against her best judgement. When things go awry, how does it change Pennie?

The history of Malaga Island is revealed to Pennie through her dreams, visions and research. Were you aware of this true Maine history before reading the book? Was there anything that surprised or shocked you?

The idea of cronyism is revealed, both past and present. How did this political favoritism affect the community on Malaga Island? How does it affect the presentday dispute over the cemetery at Fairview?

The Indigenous twins, Dani and Mali, are related to the Marks family who lived on Malaga Island and were later committed to the Maine School for the Feeble Minded. How are racial injustices like this, and the theory of eugenics, carried out today?

At the end of novel, Pennie finds herself on a bridge at night. “Back inside her dream, she heard Chloe crying and saw Lottie’s terrorized eyes.” Why does she think of Chloe and Lottie at this moment? What do these two young women represent?

The number three, and the triskelion necklace, are important symbols in the book. In Celtic mythology, the triskele represents the balance of three forces. What does this mean to Pennie? Does it hold any spiritual meaning for you?

Goode Vibrations of the Wresting Place Book Club Questions PDF

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