READING GROUP GUIDE FOR
LEAVING THE HALL LIGHT ON
1. What does
the title of the book mean?
2. What is
your reaction to Madeline’s story about her son? Did you have any unexpected
feelings or responses?
3. Have you
known anyone (a friend, a relative, etc.) who has/had mental illness? In your
experience, how have people dealt with mental illness?
4. Would you
be able to recognize the signs of mental illness or suicidal tendencies? Do you
know any support services in your community that could be of help in such a
situation?
5. When
Madeline and Bob see Paul in a manic state for the first time, they essentially
do an “intervention” on the spot and take him to a hospital for a psychiatric
evaluation. Would you have taken the same action? Why or why not?
6. What would
you do if you suspected a friend or family member was a danger to
himself/herself or to others?
7. After Paul
is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he is emotionally distant from Madeline and
Bob and sometimes seems hostile. (He frequently tells Bob to “Leave me alone!”)
How do you give support and comfort to a person who doesn’t want support or
comfort?
8. Paul doesn’t
take his medications as prescribed. One of the reasons he cites is that it
interferes with his creative work (in his case, composing and playing music).
If a medication inhibits an artist’s creativity, should the artist give up
his/her art?
9. Have you
known anyone who committed suicide? What was the impact on people who were
close to the suicide victim? How did people deal with the suicide?
10. Does the
stigma of mental illness and suicide still exist? If so, how can we help erase
it?
11. What could you
do to help and comfort a family that has experienced a suicide or other tragedy
(besides bringing over a casserole)? What kind of friend would you be during a
time like this?
12. Madeline and
Bob grieved differently. How were their experiences different? What are the
pros and cons of their reactions to Paul’s suicide?
13. In Chapter
Nine “Surviving the First Year (and Beyond),” Madeline talks about “diversions”
– reading, going to movies, etc., – all the things she does to keep her mind
off of Paul’s suicide. What do you think of Madeline’s list? Is there anything
you would add or do differently?
14. What role does
storytelling play when it comes to death? Does it make a difference to survivors
to be able to remember a person in stories?
15. Do you think
that writing this story was helpful/cathartic to the author? How does writing
aid healing? How do you deal with trauma in your life?
16. Do you think
the poetry and photos enhanced or detracted from the story? What role does the
poetry play in the memoir?
LINKS TO MY FALL 2012 BLOG TOUR STOPS
http://www.sukosnotebook.net/2012/09/a-brand-new-feature-guest-post-by.html
http://thealliterativeallomorph.blogspot.com/2012/10/author-guest-post-day-leaving-hall.html
http://doreencox.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-review-leaving-hall-light-on.html
http://womensmemoirs.com/memoir-writing/memoir-author-madeline-sharples-returns-with-more-insights/
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