DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: By Way of Accident

​​​READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
By Way of Accident

1. River seems to fall head over heels for Brooke when he first meets her at the creek. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love so quickly or do you think River’s age played a part in it?
2. What are your first impressions of Brooke?
3. Brooke says that eventually everyone gets used to pretty. Do you think this is true?
4. Why do you believe River held onto Brooke? Do you think it’s possible to hold onto someone for years, without contact?
5. What do you think of River’s relationship with Amy?
6. River asks Amy what she thinks she’ll miss about life when she dies. Amy says he shouldn’t think about things like that. Do you think Brooke’s free spirit helped to shape River’s thoughts? Do you think our first loves somehow help to shape our thoughts on love, life?
7. River sets out to find Brooke after he receives her lost letter. Would you have done the same?​
8. When River sees Brooke with another guy, he leaves without talking to her. Why do you think he does this?
9. Were you surprised that it was Amy who showed up to see River at the coffee bar? Were you expecting Brooke? Do you think it's reasonable for River to have considered taking Amy back?
10. Did you suspect that River was bidding against Brooke for Mrs. Catcher's house? Why do you think Brooke bought the house?
11. Near the end of the novel, Brooke recites a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald that says: There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice? Do you think this is true?
    
12. What role do you think fate plays in this story? Do you believe that River and Brooke were meant to find each other again or do you think it was purely a lucky coincidence?
    
13. In the epilogue, River says: There are no accident, but instead, only things we cannot see, only hidden memories--later disguised and made to look as if they merely came to us...by way of accident. How do you interpret this quote? Do you believe it to be true?