The Atlas of Untold Stories
A literary journey beckons them . . . and may profoundly rewrite their stories.
Chloe Vance, dreamer of the family, needs to tell her pragmatic mom, Edie, that she has accepted a low-paying art instructor role at a Christian school in Prague. Her older sister, Lauren--the "responsible one"--is doing all she can to hide the fact she's been fired for a foolish mistake and is desperately seeking her next career move. Meanwhile, Edie, estranged from her own sister following their mother's recent death, is frankly in no mood for anything else to change.
The one thing they can all agree on? Life in books sure is easier to navigate than life in the real world. As the three women embark on a nine-day road trip to visit significant literary sites throughout America's heartland, they hope to find inspiration through the works and lives of literary greats. As they experience firsthand the adventure and wonder of the classics, they'll discover the value of being honest with themselves--and their family--about their losses and failures. Only then can they come to terms with their own needs and desires and find support from the most important women in their lives--each other.
Book clubs will relish this trek through America's classic literature as award-winning author Sara Brunsvold pens an inspirational novel of mother-daughter relationships, sisterhood, literary themes, a cross-country road trip, and books about books.
These discussion questions were provided by the publisher, Bethany House.
Book club questions for The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
The story alternates between the viewpoints of Edie, Lauren, and Chloe Vance. Which character did you root for the most? What is it about that character that draws you in?
Each of the Vance women has her own type of connection with books. How would you describe each woman’s connection?
How would you describe your connection to books?
The Vances’ road trip is built around places associated with authors or books. What bookish site have you visited? How did visiting that site affect your understanding of the book or author?
Which of the American literature authors or works highlighted in the book resonated with you the most? Why?
Despite their distinct differences, the Vance women have similarities to each other. What similarities did you notice?
Chloe has a persistence that her mom and sister at first view as naive. What changes their viewpoint?
Lauren often feels ignored by her family. What contributes to this feeling? Is she justified in feeling this way? Why or why not?
Edie’s greatest fear is abandonment. How does this affect her relationship with her family members?
How do each of the Vance women change over the course of their journey?
The Atlas of Untold Stories Book Club Questions PDF
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