Discussion Questions: My Butterfly

READING GROUP GUIDE
​DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MY BUTTERFLY

1. My Butterfly is told from Will’s perspective. If you’ve read Butterfly Weeds, how does the story differ from Julia’s perspective? Do you prefer the male or female voice?
2. When Will has to leave for a fire call while Julia is back from college, she’s disappointed. Are her feelings justified? How does Will's new job affect their relationship?
3. Will is in the hospital after his fall, and Julia whispers: I can’t do this. What do you think she is referring to? Is it reasonable for her to feel this way, especially knowing what we later find out about her father’s first profession?
4. Did Will fight enough for Julia during their break-up? Was Julia too quick to let Will go?
5. Jeff convinces Will that if he takes Jessica to the New Year’s Eve party that Julia will be jealous and fall back in love with him. What do you think of Jeff’s scheme? Why do you think Will bought it?
6. What do you think of Jessica? Is she good for Will? Do you feel for her?
7. Jeff says to Will after Julia goes to college that she might never come back to him. What part does Julia being in college play in her and Will's relationship? Do you think Julia is struggling with balancing her old and new worlds?
8. Will’s fire chief says: Sometimes, you just have to let go. She’ll come back, when she’s ready. Do you think this is good advice?
9. The fire chief also says: Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit on your shoulder. Do you believe this is true?
10. What part did Julia play in Will eventually contacting the agent? Have you ever done anything for a boy/girl?
11. Will seems to immediately turn away every girl. Do you think his love for Julia is why he does this? Do you think it’s possible to love someone for years from a distance, especially at such a young age?
12. When Rachel tells Will that Julia broke off her engagement, she also tells Will to give Julia time. Do you think he gave her too much time? Would you have contacted her sooner?
13. We learn that Will is planning on proposing to Julia at his concert. But he hasn’t seen her in awhile. Is this a crazy idea? Or is this what he needed to do?
14. We later learn that Jeff and Jessica are dating. Did you see this coming? Do they seem as if they're a good couple?
15. Will says in the epilogue that life is all about finding any way to get to the one you love. Do you think Will could have found his way to Julia faster and saved himself some grief? Or do you think his journey was necessary?
16. In the epilogue, Will also says that somewhere in the course of life, children struggles morph into adult ones, and the pain becomes too deeply rooted for a hug or a word to cure anymore. Do you agree with this?
17. Also in the epilogue, Julia says that her and Will’s story is full of stumbles, tear and smiles and holding on and refusing to let go. It’s the best kind of fairy tale. Do you believe that these are the characteristics of every fairy tale?​