Homestead by Melinda Moustakis

What is this novel about?

learning to trust, the wild inside us, sense of self
How did you find the pacing of this book?

Do you think you would have been able to homestead in Alaska?

How do you understand Marie and Lawrence’s decision to get married? What are their expectations of the marriage? How do those expectations hold up once they are actually living together?

What do Marie and Lawrence each hope for from the homestead? What does it represent to them?

Homestead is structured around the seasons, with each chapter taking place over the course of a month. How do the cycles of a year shape the novel’s form and plot?

Discuss Marie’s relationship with her sister, Sheila. How are their lives similar and different, especially their marriages?

Discuss the portrayal of Alaska in this novel. Did it surprise you or change the way you think about the state? If so, how? How much of the story is tied into the landscape. Would this story have worked in a different setting?

Homestead is set in the 1950s, when there were often strict gender norms that shaped one’s place in the world. How do Marie and Lawrence conform to those norms, and how do they thwart them? Were there any aspects of their characterizations that surprised you?

Both Marie and Lawrence express ownership/command of the land in different ways.“shadows of mountains beyond the dark line of the low and unseen water, and a stretch of dusky sky, a pale yellow and lavender, and a thick stir of clouds with sweeps of fire and fireweed, and who could say this was not meant for her?” How do their perspectives differ?

Over the course of two years, Marie and Lawrence witness the push for Alaskan statehood and are in Anchorage when the official announcement comes through. How are their lives affected by statehood? Discuss the ways in which the political and the domestic are woven together in this novel.

Why do you think Marie named their baby after herself.

Lawrence is haunted by his experiences during the Korean War, and compares his night terrors to a swarm of mayflies. What effect did military service have on him? How does it influence his relationship with Marie?

Why does Lawrence decide to sign the deed without Marie, despite his promise? Do you sympathize at all with his action?

How do you understand Marie’s decision to forgive Lawrence and continue their life together? What do you think the future holds for them?