Maine Characters

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which characters did you identify with the most and the least? Share your reasoning.

2. How do the themes of Maine Characters compare to those of Orenstein’s other novels, like Head Over Heels (2020)? How would you describe Orenstein’s writing style?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever felt personally transformed by grief? How did the grieving process change you? Were you aware of the changes as they occurred, or did you only become aware of them later?

2. Have you learned of any family secrets from your parents? Did your responses more closely echo those of Lucy or of Vivian? Did you feel betrayed by the secrecy? Why or why not?

3. When did you first realize that your parents are fallible? Can you recall the situation and how you reacted?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Do parents’ secrets affect children’s identities equally profoundly in any culture, or are the conflicts of the novel specific to American culture? Explain your reasoning.

2. The advents of social media, genetic testing, and the internet have made it much more difficult to hide secrets like Hank’s. Consider how Lucy “stalked” Vivian on the internet for years before meeting her. What are the benefits of having ready access to such sensitive information? What are the drawbacks?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What are some examples of irony in the text, and what is the effect of these moments on the characters?

2. How does the juxtaposition between Vivian’s and Lucy’s situations illuminate both characters more clearly? Would either sister have changed so significantly without the presence of the other?

3. The novel’s chapters are often divided into sections labeled with the subheadings “Vivian” or “Lucy.” What is the effect of this structural choice? Are the subheadings helpful or intrusive?

4. Are Lucy and Vivian equally well developed as characters? Are Celeste and Dawn?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. In a film adaptation of the novel, who would you cast to play Vivian, Lucy, Celeste, Dawn, Hank, and Caleb?

2. Imagine a prequel to the novel that focuses on Hank’s relationships with Dawn and Celeste in real time. How might the author work to render Hank a more sympathetic character?

3. Imagine an extra chapter set in the near future. What might happen between Vivian and Caleb when he returns from Thailand? 

4. Write a script for a conversation between Dawn, Celeste, Vivian, and Lucy five years after Hank’s death. What issues might still remain unresolved, and how might the tone of their interactions have changed? 

5. Create a playlist to illustrate Dawn’s and Celeste’s respective romances with Hank.