Lenten Book Study "Self Portrait" - Chapter 1

Once again, I am leading a book study. This time the book is Jim Sano's novel "Self Portrait", the 3rd 4th book in the Fr. Tom series. It is a mini-book study over 4 evenings - Feb. 13th, Feb. 20th, March 5th, and March 19th - covering 8 chapters during each meeting.

To help us with our discussions, I came up with questions for us to reflect on and prepare to share during the meeting. The questions are:

• Which character struck you the most in the chapter? Why?
• Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?
• Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapter? Which one? Why?
• Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?
• What do you find most compelling about the chapter? Why?

Below are my thoughts on chapter 1.

Which character struck you the most in the chapter? Why?

In Chapter 1, we are introduced to Jessica (a young woman running through South End in Boston), Officer William (Billy) Patrick Quinn with Boston PD and his partner, Sean O'Donnell. Finally, there is Mary, who is Billy's wife of 35 years and they have lived in the same apartment their entire married life together. The character that struck me would have to be Billy. He is compassionate and protective as we can see in his interaction with Jessica. He is a devoted and loving husband married to his wife of 35 years. Mary is sick and needs surgery so he is concerned about her. Also, Billy suffered the loss of his son and is a mentor for Sean, who he and Mary took in as a teenager. Billy is no doubt one of the main characters with complexities that will undoubtedly unfold throughout the story.

Which character reminds you of yourself or someone you know? How?

I see myself in Billy because of the love that he has for his wife and how he worries about her health and well-being.

Do you empathize or sympathize with any of the characters in the chapter? Which one? Why?

I would say Billy again. He is a regular guy who goes to work to support his family. He loves his wife and has concern for others - Sean & Jessica.

Were there any teachings or references to the Catholic faith that you picked up in the chapter? If yes, what is it and what were your thoughts?

While not explicitly in the chapter, considering that Billy & Mary have been married for 35 years speaks to the Church's understanding of the permanence, unitive, and procreative purposes of marriage between one man and one woman as God intends. Billy is by Mary's side in sickness and Mary is by Billy's side in his career as a police officer.

What do you find most compelling about the chapter? Why?

I am asking myself, what happened to Billy and Mary's son? We are shaped by our experiences in life - the good and the bad. How is Billy affected by the death of his son? How does that play into the fear that he might have with his wife being sick and need surgery that he cannot afford? These are all intriguing storylines to follow.