Anna RAL Discussions Questions #3

Firstly I must apologise for the lack of regular blogging recently. I've been at home, with a poor internet connection and have been caught up in this RAL, which is taking up all my posts! I am back in Exeter (yay!) and back to normal (sort of), so I will return to normal(ish) posting (is there such a thing?) next week! 

Here is the third set of discussion questions. If you've not read it, there are definitely spoilers here! 

St Clair knows he needs to make a decision about his relationship with Anna, but his hesitation only hurts her. Do you sympathize with him?

Yes. As someone who hates making decisions and changes and hates that sort of thing, I totally sympathise. But at the same time HE’S SO STUPID. I MEAN REALLY. HE HAS ANNA, COME ONNNNNNNN. *ahem* I mean….

Anna is hurt by St Clair, and makes some bad decisions, relationship wise. Do you sympathize with her, or not?

Yes. I do. What’s a girl to do? I mean, he’s stupid. He acknowledges that. But she has to do something, this has been going on like all year. She is stupid, but people do impulsive things when they’re mad or upset. And I do sympathise with her.

How would you have reacted in the park if you were Meredith? How do you think Anna handles the fall out with Meredith?

She has a very appropriate reaction! I think I probably would have done the same to be fair. Or more likely, just pretend I didn’t care when I really did. But running away seems a good option, especially as everyone knew how she felt. It wasn’t like it was a secret.

I think Anna should have listed to Rash and not spoken to her that night, and left her to wallow for a bit. Although it’s good of her to try. But when she does patch things up, I think she handles that well.

Anna has a meltdown in chapter 42 – do you think this was a break-through for her? St Clair tells her that he isn’t the only one who is afraid of being alone. Do you think Anna ever realized this before now?

No. That’s such a hard thing to realize – especially if you’re denying it as much as you can (like she is!). And she doesn’t see that her thing with Toph and her hopes were the same as Ellie and Etienne, because she was never in a relationship with him in the same way. And she kept holding onto him because of Ellie, and argh! It’s so confused. But no, she didn’t realize.

Were you proud of Anna for the steps she takes to repair the relationships in her life?

Yes. She does all the right things. And although maybe she could have seen it sooner and done it sooner, when she does do it, it’s right and I am proud because everything works out so well.

These questions were hard! I can't believe that's the end either. Posting the other two challenges hopefully today!

 

·   

Discussion Questions #2

Another Anna RAL post for you all. Here's my answers to the second set of discussion questions. Still loving being able to reread this amazing book. Etienne <3 

At the end of what we read last, St Clair asked Anna a question that could change their friendship. Would you answer the same way?

Yes, I think so. I think she does what is right, given the situation. And also maybe the easy way out!? I would certainly go with that anyway.

Anna realizes in Chapter 17 that she and St Clair will both be spending their Thanksgiving break at school, basically alone. How do you think this changes their relationship?

Oh man, this changes their relationship SO much. I adore this bit of the story, I think it’s so adorable and I love how she manages to get him out the house and back into the world again. It’s so cute. And all the time they spend together… they get to know each other in a way that they couldn’t before, because no one else is around. And the fact that she bothers – she makes the effort to find out what is going on with his mum, and he really appreciates that. I think that’s adorable. I mean, having been to that sort of place before, I know how much that would mean. Someone making an effort without asking ‘are you okay?’ all the time.

Anna and St Clair’s relationship changes even more over the Christmas holiday. Do you think either of them realizes just HOW much?

I don’t think they do until near the end of the holidays. I love how easy they become with each other, and I love all the calls and emails. I think they probably do realise as the holidays go on – for Anna especially on New Year. I love it when she says that St Clair is now ‘home’. Without anyone else around them again, they become really close and share everything and I love how they become close when they’re apart from each other. I love this bit so much. Maybe they don’t quite realise the full extent of how it’s changed though.

Anna has a big realization about her relationship with St Clair at the end of chapter 30. Discuss!

Okay, I know I keep saying this, but I LOVE this moment, when she goes to meet St Clair and Josh and sees them sitting there on the steps and realises. Oh my goodness – such an amazing moment! And she can’t walk, and then he sees her, and then he gives her the bead and Josh is just there like ‘aha…’ and oh man I love it so much! Finally right?!

How do you think Anna will deal with her new feelings for St Clair?

I’ve read it before so I feel like I’m cheating…. But with Ellie around, and Meredith I think she knows she’s in a sticky situation.

 

Anna RAL - Discussion Questions

 

One of the challenges is to answer these discussion questions, which can be found here .

Here are my answers. 

Discussion Questions

Anna is afraid to really experience Paris when she arrives. Would you be, or would you look at it as an adventure?

I would be terrified, and would definitely be inclined to stay in my room, but I like to think I would go out and be brave and think of it as an adventure!! I think if I had been pushed into it a little like she has been I would be just as afraid, but maybe if I was prepared for it I would be braver! Who knows!

Which of the characters we meet – Anna, St Clair, Josh, Rashmi, or Meredith – do you most identify with? Why?

It’s impossible to pick just one. I think there are elements of most of the characters that I identify with. I guess Meredith though; because she is the best friend and she clearly pines after Etienne, but she is never going to be with him. She is supportive of her friends, but stays in the background. She is loyal too. I also love the way that she collects things and how decorated her room is – she is passionate about the Beatles and a football player.

But then, I identify with Anna’s uncertainties and alienation in a foreign city. She is grateful to be accepted and finds herself amazed that she is part of a group. Her train of thoughts and awkardness I totally relate too, and I guess Anna's voice and insecurities is one of the main reasons I pick this book up again and again. Rash is quiet and uncertain about the intruder to their group, although she is also loyal and stands up for Anna, which I admire. Josh too is quiet and passionate and dedicated.

Anna is drawn to St Clair, as well, everyone is. She wants to be “just friends” with him. Do you think this will be possible for her? Can a guy and a girl BE just friends?

Yes. I think they can. One of my best friends is a guy. Although I think the attraction between the two of them is strong it’s kind of inevitable….

What are your first impressions of Anna? Of St Clair?

I love Anna. From the first sentence I adore her voice and character.

And St Clair… how can you not fall in love with him from that moment when Anna runs into him? *swoon*

What’s your favorite moment or quote from what we’ve read so far?

These are tough questions!

Okay; so I managed to pull some moments and vague quotes out:

The moment when Anna walks into Etienne for the first time and goes ‘Not a wall, a boy’.

The moment when she is standing on the star and he tells her about it and welcomes her to Paris, and when the wind blows and he says ‘must have been a good one’. 

The bit when Anna finally orders food and St Clair yells across the dining room. 

And when he does the dodgy 'fo shiz' accent.  

And the bit where Anna talks about how Meredith pratically throws napkins at her... that makes my heart twist. Poor Mer.  

See, I just love how Stephanie Perkins manages to combine humor with really cute moments! I have gone back to these moments thinking there are lines I want to pick out, but realising I want to quote the whole page, I realized that is impossible!

Okay, as I keep reading on, I keep finding more things I want to quote. 

Like the moment when Etienne hears the news about his mum and he is so heartbroken, and that moment is so devestating. 

And, his drunken confession.

The exchange between Josh and Anna when she's like should we be skipping school?

This book is too full of good moments! Sorry....   

(I nearly got super geeky referencing these... curse of the English student). 

This will be linked on Molli’s blog at Once Upon a Prologue.Join in there and follow along on twitter with the hashtag #AnnaRAL