A Week in Winter

Consider how the theme of Personal Transformation relates to the theme of Healing and Redemption. In the context of the novel, how do self-examination and personal growth foster recovery from trauma and stronger relationships?

Why are Chicky and Orla so resistant to Howard and Barbara’s suggestions for Stone House? What might the two designers symbolize in the context of the novel’s themes? In answering, consider first what Stone House symbolizes.

Mothers and motherhood are explored in several places throughout the novel. How do these mother-and-child relationships tie into the theme of Personal Transformation?

Corry (John) is the clearest example of a character who is obscuring their true identity. Which other characters are hiding their true selves from the group, and why? Does the novel advocate for eliminating any sort of external self? If yes, how so? If not, what kind of relationship does the novel encourage between the external and internal selves?

What makes The Walls’ marriage so strong and enduring? How does it compare and contrast with some of the other romantic relationships portrayed in the novel?

Why is Miss Howe more resistant to change than the other characters? Is her personal misery a result of her circumstances, or a choice?

Why is Freda so determined to ignore the warning signs about her new romantic relationship? Compare her relationship with Mark to Chicky’s relationship with Walter. How do these two women navigate a similar experience?

What role does trauma play in the lives of these characters? Some traumas are more overt, while others are more subtle. Explore how some of the characters in the novel are driven by the challenging experiences of their past.