Long Hill Home

by Kathryn Pincus

  4. TOPIC: In the aftermath of her attack, Kelly expresses anger toward her husband Dan, despite the fact that he cares for her in such a loving and loyal way.

  Question: Why is Kelly angry with Dan?

  5. TOPIC: Stuart Harlan, the Public Defender assigned to represent Chad, explains that he “just graduated from law school last year,” and that Chad’s case is his “first felony.”

  Questions: Does Stuart’s youth and inexperience help Chad relate to him more and open up to him easier?

  Does the fact that both Chad and his attorney are young and inexperienced cause the reader to empathize with them more and care more about the result of Chad’s prosecution?

  6. TOPIC: When introducing their baby boy to the doctor and nurse in the delivery room, Juan declares that Miguel “will be his name on his birth certificate,” and that they, “will call him Michael mostly.”

  Questions: Why does Juan say this?

  Do you think Maria and Juan will feel more comfortable calling their baby by his real name, Miguel, at some point in the future?

  7. TOPIC: Sam Schultz tells Kelly in very clear terms that she’ll “have no contact at all” with Maria before the proceedings involving her attack are completely over.

  Questions: Why does Kelly feel compelled to stand in front of Maria’s apartment and walk on her sidewalk?

  Does Kelly truly believe that she is not violating Sam’s rules when she visits Maria’s lawyer-- Sara Nuñez-- to offer her partner’s legal assistance in obtaining Juan’s citizenship? Or does Kelly’s rationalization as to why that brief meeting was appropriate ring hollow?

  Is it difficult to get angry with Kelly in any event, since she is motivated solely by her need to help Maria?

  8. TOPIC: Sam Schultz is described as having an unrequited love for Kelly, in the past when they were law students, and in the present while he prosecutes her rapist.

  Question: Does Sam’s strong feelings for Kelly enhance or diminish his ability to do his job in prosecuting Jack Barnard? How?

  9. TOPIC: On the eve of his release from prison, Chad is the victim of a terribly traumatic rape attempt. He experiences terror and pain, and is saved just seconds before he is a rape victim.

  Questions: Was this experience in the novel to help you sympathize with Chad, with Kelly, or with both?

  Does it affect Chad’s understanding of Kelly—or his interaction with her when they finally meet?

  10. TOPIC: When Chad is on the airplane, waiting to take off on the journey to his mother, he meets a beautiful and talkative girl his age, Lisa. He tries hard to not “be the creepy kid” any more. In stead, he finds Lisa to be warm, relatable, and genuinely interested in connecting with him. She forges an easy relationship with Chad at a time when he needs it most.

  Questions: Is Lisa’s personality and genuine interest in Chad the reason that Chad can finally make a positive and natural connection with another person? OR

  Is Chad a different person when he meets Lisa, and therefore finally able to see this possibility in her and respond to it appropriately?

  If you believe Chad is a different person when he meets Lisa, explain how he has changed and why.