Heartwood: Book Club Questions Surrounding Mothers, Daughters, and The Woods

Aug 24

2 min read

Trees and foliage in the shape of a woman’s head

Age: Adult

Genre: Literary Fiction/Mystery/Suspense

Quick Review of Heartwood

If your book club is looking for a poignant, genre-blending read, this adult literary fiction/mystery/suspense novel is a great pick. I rarely read literary fiction, so I went in skeptical, but the further I got, the more invested I became. In addition to enlightening me on the efforts that go into searching for a lost hiker, the book also delivered insights into mother-daughter relationships, the burnout that stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what people can learn about themselves out in the woods.

Book Club Questions

The book explores several mother-daughter relationships: Valerie and Janet, Lena and Christine, Bev and her mom. Which relationship do you identify with the most? What is the book’s central message about mothers and daughters?
Bev notes, “It’s the dream mother that you have to let go of. . . . She’s a mirage. She’ll only break your heart.” How was this the case for Bev? How is the case for you?
Both Lena and Janet said things to their daughters they wish they could take back. What prompted them to say those things? How could they have said them in a more constructive way? If they had, do you think it would have changed their daughters’ choices?
What do you make of Juanita’s comment to Lena: “Every time I see you, I get a little mad at you. . . . Sometimes it seems as if you think you are the only one around here with grief or pain.” Have you ever felt like you were the only one dealing with a specific struggle? How does it change your experience to learn others have similar struggles?
What role does foraging play in Lena’s life? Why does she stop foraging partway through the book?
Bev frequently reflects on her experiences as one of the only female wardens. How did being the only female shape her career, especially given the isolation and demands of her job? What challenges do women face in historically male careers? What about men in historically female careers?
What do you think drove the volunteers to come out day after day and search for Valerie, a stranger and out-of-stater? What is it about a lost person that brings people together?
Valerie hiked the Appalachian Trail to deal with the burnout resulting from being a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. She wanted to answer the question, “When would [her] heart be whole again?” What lingering effects did the pandemic have on you? How have you dealt with them?
If you were to hike the Appalachian Trail, what would your trail name be and why?
Why do you think the book is titled Heartwood?