by Lynne Gentry
Topics and Questions for Discussion
1. Lisbeth meets Cyprian for the first time when she is sold to him as a slave. To win Lisbeth, Cyprian intentionally bids higher than the proconsul because “rescuing those the proconsul keeps in bondage is worth the risk”. Explain the risks Cyprian takes in outbidding the proconsul. How does the theme of both rescue and risk characterize Lisbeth and Cyprian at this point?
2. In Chapter 7, Lisbeth realizes that her fall has taken her back in time to mid-third-century Roman Carthage. Lisbeth recalls that Roman rule and the city change drastically during this time period with a “bloody, volatile mess in the African provinces”. If you could choose a previous time period to live in, which one would it be and why? What historic challenges are associated with that time period?
3. When Lisbeth first discovers her mother is alive, she is filled with a myriad of emotions as to why her mother had not returned to them. “Had Mama chosen this life over the one they’d had together? Why didn’t she want to return to her and Papa?”. Have you ever assumed you’d been rejected or abandoned by a loved one? If so, how has time and further communication changed your perspective on the decisions this loved one made?
4. One of the believers, Numidicus, expresses concern over Christian persecution in Carthage: “Already believers are blamed for any misfortune that befalls Carthage. Persecution of the worst kind will come upon us if this sickness spreads. Aspasius will not rest until he sees us all fed to the lions”. He wishes to take his daughter and leave Carthage to flee from the spreading sickness and persecution, encouraging other believers to do so. If you were in third-century Carthage at this time, would you have stayed or left? Why?
5. Aspasius’s evil plan of destruction through a cleansing was designed to enable a “return to the pure lineage that would carry the borders of Rome to the ends of the earth” and create a “perfect Carthage”. Describe other real-life cleansings that have occurred or are occurring in the world. How do you see social, economic, or religious injustices play out in present-day American culture?
6. In order to stop Aspasius’s inflicting rule, Cyprian seeks a seat in the senate. Bishop Caecilianus asks Cyprian a question that contrasts with his desire to take proactive steps to secure a better Carthage: “So, in your educated opinion, relying upon the power of our Lord is futile?”. Cyprian responds that he is “not discounting God, but surely the Lord does not expect us to sit upon our hands? Do nothing? Allow evil to run its ugly course?”. Do you think the bishop’s, or Cyprian’s, perspective is the better path to take? Why? How do you personally navigate relying on the power of the Lord or others, versus proactively engaging in righting the wrong or striving for good?
7. Shortly after saving Junia from the measles, Lisbeth helps heal her mother from one of Aspasius’s beatings and discovers that the Down-syndrome boy, Laurentius, is her half brother. How do these encounters alter Lisbeth? How does Lisbeth begin to see her mother? How have you been changed by helping another?
8. How does Lisbeth’s offer to marry Cyprian compare and contrast with the decision of her mother to stay in Carthage for so long?
9. Lisbeth asks herself, “Could a human being alter the preordered boundaries of time enough to make a difference? What if fate had given her an unprecedented opportunity to right her own wrong?”. How do your actions today alter the preordered boundaries of time, specifically the future? Choose one area in your life that will impact your future and that you would like to change. Develop a plan to change it. Conversely, if given an opportunity to redo a wrong, which one would it be? And what would you do differently?
10. How does the status and progression of Lisbeth’s relationship with her mother parallel Lisbeth’s relationship with and actions toward Abra, Junia, and Laurentius?
11. When Lisbeth finds the way to return home she is faced with a decision. If she returns home, she could save her Papa and her old life. If she stays in the third century, she could save Mama, Laurentius, and Carthage. She also wonders if Cyprian can save her. What do you think she means by the latter thought? Discuss how Cyprian, Lisbeth, and Magdalena are both rescuers and the ones being rescued. How is this true of your life?
12. A horrifying and unjust scene unfolds in Chapter 56 when Aspasius accuses Ruth, Lisbeth, Cyprian, and Caecilianus. Was there a particular hero that emerged? Explain. Could you imagine yourself facing death for refusal to bow to a god different than your own? Could you imagine giving yourself up for a loved one in order to prevent their death? Which of these would be easier for you to do? Why?
13. Consider the relationship between Magdalena and Lisbeth. How do you think Magdalena must have felt as a mother with a son to protect in one world and a beloved daughter in another world? After all the heartache, why do you think Magdalena sacrifices the nearness of her precious daughter once again when she pushes Lisbeth down the cistern?
14. The story opens and closes with Lisbeth’s evaluation of an Arabic baby named Abra. How does Lisbeth’s medical failure as a doctor in the opening scene compel and affect her throughout the book? In what ways has a failure in your life compelled and affected your journey?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. Research the Cave of the Swimmers. Who discovered it and when? Where is its actual location? Who are the Neolithic artists proposed to be?
2. As Christians rendered aid to both believers and nonbelievers during the third-century health crisis of Carthage, social barriers were breached and Christianity spread. Select a time for the group to volunteer with an existing organization that will allow you to breach the social, economic, or religious barriers outside of your everyday norm.
3. Identify someone in your life that has sacrificed to allow you to be where you are today, rescuing you in some way. Share that story with the group, or write the individual a letter to express your gratitude.
4. Lisbeth carried her Mama’s stethoscope with her for years, a tangible reminder of her nearness and love. Identify an object, or craft one that represents who you are. If fitting, perhaps this item can be given to a loved one.
5. Lisbeth is forced to learn natural remedies in order to care for the sick in third-century Carthage. Research the various ways you can use lemon, honey, and sea salt as natural remedies for things such as skin care, sore throats, electrolyte imbalance, and more!
A Conversation with Lynne Gentry
Who or what inspired you to write Healer of Carthage?
The call of adventure. Those who know me best know that I long to travel. To live unfettered by the restraints of time and money, to see the world, and experience many different cultures. Reading takes me to those places. So when I read about a group of tourists kidnapped from the Cave of the Swimmers, my mind immediately joined their exotic desert excursion. It was as if I touched the faded swimmers painted upon the sandstone walls and disappeared into third-century Carthage. My expedition into this ancient world of danger and intrigue has been the most exciting and satisfying mind trip yet.
You are not only a writer but also a dramatist with an educational background in speech and theater. How does this background influence your writing and storytelling process?
When actors are afraid to let their minds venture into the world of make-believe, their characters remain flat and unconvincing. That’s why I use lots of imagination games that teach my student actors how to take mental risks. When my fictional characters are reluctant to step outside their comfort zone, I have been known to pull out an acting exercise that will nudge them in the right direction.
Who is your favorite character? Why?
Lisbeth’s Down-syndrome half brother Laurentius. The original purpose of adding this young man to the cast was to demonstrate the easy-to-overlook compassionate side of the Romans. I didn’t know he was Lisbeth’s secret sibling until after she performed her rescue procedure. The moment Laurentius opened those almond-shaped eyes and offered Lisbeth unconditional love, I knew this boy had been loved. But by whom? I looked across th
e room and there was Magdalena glancing anxiously over her shoulder, and suddenly I had the reason Lisbeth’s mother could not return home. I couldn’t have left Laurentius either.
Describe your favorite writing location or room.
My creativity is stimulated by interactions with real people. Most of my writing is done in the thick of our family life—at the kitchen table. I have a lovely office, but it is tucked away on the second floor. Too far from the action for this extrovert. If I really need to concentrate on writing details, I will trudge the stairs. But after three or four hours of isolation, I’m breaking free.
Your research process was thorough and tapped into the knowledge of a medical intern, a theological graduate student, and historical resources. How long did the research process take you? How long did the writing process take you?
My fascination with history originated with the books I read as a kid. I loved the daring spirit of the pioneers of Little House on the Prairie and the against-all-odds survivor story of The Swiss Family Robinson. I spent hours contemplating how those people lived without electricity, indoor toilets, modern medical care, or a good hair dryer. Over the years I’ve collected boxes of research and stacks of historical books. Creating an imaginary world from the gathered bits and pieces has been a lifelong journey. Actually putting the story on the page took about twelve months.
What would you describe as the main theme(s) in Healer of Carthage?
On the surface, the story’s theme is mercy. The mercy God freely gives us and our willingness to offer mercy to others. But, to me, this story is really about the mercy we extend to ourselves. Like so many of us, Lisbeth was stuck. Hanging on to the past was sabotaging her future. It wasn’t until she accidentally fell into the biggest adventure of her life that she learned how to forgive herself and move forward.
What do you want readers to experience or take away from this novel?
I hope readers close the last page and say, “Whew! That was one wild and courageous ride.” I marvel at how a scruffy little band of misfits changed history. Their bravery bolsters my courage to love with reckless abandon.
In the Author’s Notes section you say, “The cost of true courage is great, and few are willing to pay the price.” How has your own journey of courage shaped the path Lisbeth takes?
Courage is not the absence of fear. Real courage is being scared to death but doing it anyway. When this story idea came to me, I was afraid to write something so different. But a still small voice inside kept saying, “Trust me.” So while the laundry and dishes piled up, I wrote. Day after day. Even when I didn’t see the point. Even when I wanted to stop. So many times in this story, Lisbeth is faced with the same questions that plagued my unexpected undertaking. Why me? Why this place? Will I be sorry if I don’t give it my all? If you’ve been called to do something that scares you to death, let me encourage you to take the risk. Living with regret is not living.
You are a co-founder of The Echo Project, a humanitarian organization that brings aid to those in Africa. Healer of Carthage also touches on the theme of bringing aid and relief to those who are without. Discuss this passion for justice and mercy in your life.
In the 1940s a polio epidemic swept the world. Everyone was terrified. My mother was one of the half-million children who contracted the crippling disease. If Berni’s country doctor hadn’t risked breaking the quarantine, she would have died. It makes me mad when children suffer, whether from disease, poverty, or lack of opportunity. I want to pack my bags and rescue little ones around the world. But until that is financially feasible, co-founder Lisa Harris and I are doing what we can to give voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. If you’d like to learn more about what we do for kids, visit www.theechoproject.org.
An excerpt from the sequel Return to Exile begins with the following line: “Time is not the healer of all things.” Is this an idea that you would like your readers to grasp? Why?
Who hasn’t wanted to turn the clock back and change things? Yet, as we all know, some choices leave wounds so deep they never heal. The whole idea of fixing mistakes implies that we can eliminate the consequences. But can we? This intriguing conundrum drives Dr. Lisbeth Hastings’s quest to right her wrongs. But if she eliminates the consequences of her first visit to Carthage, she also stands to eliminate the thing she loves the most. Now that’s an adventure I don’t want to miss.
Keep reading for an excerpt from
Return to Exile,
the second book in
The Carthage Chronicles!
1
Dallas, Texas
TIME IS NOT THE healer of all things.
Dr. Lisbeth Hastings grabbed her stethoscope and sprinted through a gurney gauntlet. The exceptionally high onslaught of feverish patients had increased her workload tenfold and kept her at the hospital long past her call shift. So much for spending Christmas Eve with her family. So much for believing that this time she had everything under control.
Lisbeth skidded around the corner, out of breath and in a cold sweat. Her patient’s worried husband paced outside the room where the code had been called. He jostled a crying toddler and pleaded for answers she didn’t have.
“I’ll get back to you soon as I can.” Lisbeth shot past him and burst into the crowded room. “What happened?”
Nelda, the charge nurse, shrugged. “Fine one minute. Convulsing the next.” She quietly started closing drawers on the red crash cart.
“Not another one!” Lisbeth plowed through the litter left by the team of airway specialists, nurses, and ICU attendings. She’d attended and assisted at hundreds of Code Blues. Heroic measures inflicted unavoidable trauma on crashing patients. Yet, when she reached the body lying on the bed, she gasped at the total loss of dignity.
Damp, blond strands stuck to the dead woman’s face. Red-rimmed eyes. Blue lips. Fiery pustules that made her look like some kind of distorted monster. Her hands were curled as if she’d tried to hang on to the last breath. Lines of all sorts tethered her rigid frame to silent machines.
Two days ago this woman and her beautiful two-year-old were enjoying Disney World. If this woman died of what Lisbeth feared, she was probably contagious the day her family flew home from Orlando, plus the three days they were in the theme park before her rash appeared, and probably even on the initial trip to their vacation destination. If Lisbeth let herself think about how many lives this woman had touched between Dallas and Florida in the past six days, she’d lose what was left of the sandwich she’d choked down ten hours ago.
Lisbeth pulled a penlight from her pocket and lifted the woman’s eyelid. Foolish, she knew, but she wanted a reaction. Needed this young wife to wake up and prove her theory wrong. She flicked a beam of light across each eye. Pupils blown beyond repair were nothing but large, black holes that pushed away any trace of the former color. Lisbeth clicked the pen off.
“Dr. Hastings?” Nelda sidled around the equipment and handed her the chart. “You want to tell the husband?”
“Tell him what? Merry Christmas, and oh, by the way, you’re a single father now.” Powerlessness shook her insides. “Hard enough to tell someone their spouse died, but when it could have been prevented, what do you say?” Two decades without a single case reported in Texas. Now there’d been three senseless deaths presenting similar symptoms in the past twenty-four hours. “I’m sorry, Nelda. It’s not your fault that more and more people insist on skipping their vaccinations.” She took a step back from the bed. “Drop your gown and gloves on the floor. Cordon off this room.”
“Do we need to quarantine the father and daughter?”
Lisbeth nodded. “And contact the CDC.” The tiled walls seemed to be closing in, squeezing the breath from her chest. This couldn’t be happening again. “We may have a pandemic on our hands.”
LISBETH WHIPPED her old Toyota into the parking garage of her downtown loft apartment. She killed the engine and dropped her head onto the steering wheel. If she’d stomped out this dise
ase when she had the chance, that mother would be home hugging her baby, not lying on a morgue slab.
In the tomblike darkness, fingers of cold snaked through the vehicle’s broken window seals. A guilty shudder ripped through Lisbeth’s exhausted body. The past had caught up with the future, and it was all her fault.
Lisbeth grabbed the sanitizer out of the console and scrubbed her hands. Even though she’d showered and disposed of her scrubs before she left the hospital, she reeked of failure. Thankfully, Papa and Maggie were current on their shots, but would their vaccinations be enough, especially if the virus was gaining the advantage over herd immunity?
She glanced at her cell phone: 3:00 a.m. If she was lucky, she’d have time to see Maggie before the CDC’s chartered jet arrived. The governmental investigators would expect every local infectious disease specialist to be front and center until they’d contained the danger. She yanked the phone from the charger and dragged herself from the car.
The elevator dinged. Lisbeth trudged the apartment corridor. A glass of milk and a plate of homemade cookies waited on the welcome mat outside her home. She bent to read a note written in red crayon.
Dear Santa,
I want my daddy.
Maggie
Santa could easier give her five-year-old daughter the moon. Lisbeth scooped up the cookies, drank the milk, then slid the key into the front-door lock. She slipped inside the quiet apartment.
Oatmeal and cinnamon lingered in the air. Papa snored on the couch, an afghan snugged up tightly beneath his chin. White lights twinkled on the spindly spruce leaning against the TV. Under the tree was Maggie’s new Ashton Drake doll. Her father had remembered her instructions to get the doll out of the closet. This bit of progress was a surprisingly bright spot in a very dark day.
