Book Club Questions for The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

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Book club questions for The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane explore the depths of marriage, the complexities of family, and the yearning for something more. This captivating novel has everything you need for a memorable book club discussion. From secrets and surprises to love and longing, Keane’s storytelling prowess will keep you hooked from start to finish.

I really loved this book because it delves into the lives of Malcolm and Jess, a couple trying to navigate their way through the challenges of small-town existence. As Malcolm dreams of owning the Half Moon, a bar that holds a special place in his heart, Jess grapples with the realization that motherhood may not be in her future. These characters are so relatable and their struggles feel incredibly real, drawing you into their world with every turn of the page.

Mary Beth Keane’s storytelling prowess shines through as she unravels the tale over the course of a week. It’s a week filled with shocking revelations, a missing patron, and a chilling blizzard that leaves everyone stranded. Keane’s exploration of midlife disappointments, the power of forgiveness, and the intricacies of small-town living had me reflecting on my own experiences and the meaning of family.

This blog post is your go-to reading guide, packed with intriguing questions that will delve into the heart of The Half Moon. Let’s dive into the world of Malcolm, Jess, and the Half Moon, where dreams, desires, and the complexities of life intertwine. Get ready for a book club session that will leave you inspired and craving more great reads!

I hope you will enjoy my discussion questions, and let me know what your thoughts are on this amazing novel! ✨

About the story

This story is about a couple who live in a small town and have to deal with a lot of complicated things in their marriage and family life.

The husband, Malcolm, has worked as a bartender for a long time and always dreamed of owning his own bar. When his boss finally retires, Malcolm gets the chance to buy the bar he works at. He sees a lot of potential in the bar and wants to make it even better, but it’s really hard for him to keep it running smoothly.

Malcolm’s wife, Jess, is a smart and confident person who is focused on her career as a lawyer. They have been trying to have a baby for a while, but it hasn’t been working out. Jess is starting to think that maybe she won’t be able to have children, and she’s also feeling like she’s getting older and needs to figure out what she wants for her future.

The story takes place over one week, and during that time, Malcolm finds out some shocking news about Jess. Also, someone who comes to the bar goes missing, and a big snowstorm hits the town, trapping everyone there. The author, Mary Beth Keane, does a great job of exploring the ups and downs of being in the middle of life, the different ways people can forgive each other, what it’s like to live in a small town, and what it means to be a family.

It’s a really interesting book that talks about a lot of deep emotions and challenges that people face in their lives.

About the Author

Mary Beth Keane is an accomplished author known for her novels The Walking People, Fever, and Ask Again, Yes. Her novel, Ask Again, Yes was a huge success, becoming a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Goodreads Book of the Year. It was even selected as The Tonight Show Summer Reads pick.

Born in the Bronx, New York City, and raised in Pearl River, New York, Mary Beth attended Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, New Jersey. She obtained her B.A. in English Literature from Barnard College, Columbia University, in 1999, and later earned her M.F.A. in Fiction from the University of Virginia in 2005.

Mary Beth Keane has received recognition for her work, including a John S. Guggenheim fellowship for fiction writing. She has also been honored by the National Book Foundation, PEN America, and the Hemingway Society. Currently, she resides with her husband and sons outside of New York City.

Book Club Questions for The Half Moon

I hope you and your book club will enjoy my discussion reading guide for The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane.✨

The Half Moon starts with a quote from Louise Erdrich that says, “Right and wrong were shades of meaning, not sides of a coin.” How do you think this quote connects to the important ideas in the book? How does it relate to the themes of marriage, family, and the complexities of life explored in The Half Moon?
How does the setting of The Half Moon, the local bar in the small town of Gillam, contribute to the atmosphere and overall story? Discuss the role of the bar in the lives of the characters and the sense of community it creates.
Both Malcolm and Jess have dreams and aspirations that they struggle to fulfill. How do their individual dreams impact their marriage and their overall happiness? Explore the theme of unfulfilled dreams and how it affects their relationship.
Infertility plays a significant role in the story, affecting Jess and Malcolm’s marriage and their emotional well-being. Discuss the author’s portrayal of infertility and its impact on the characters’ lives. How does society’s perception of infertility contribute to their struggles?
When Malcolm decides to make changes to the Half Moon, he realizes that the regular customers actually prefer things to stay the same rather than being improved. He says, “people didn’t want things to be nice, they wanted them to be familiar.” Can you relate to this idea of people resisting change and preferring familiarity? Can you see how it might also apply to relationships and marriages?
In one part of the book, Malcolm wonders about the “what ifs” in his life, like what would have happened if they hadn’t gotten married so quickly or if their baby had been born. He compares it to those Choose Your Own Adventure books where you have different paths and outcomes. Can you think of any “what ifs” in the book that stood out to you? Do you have any “what if” moments in your own life that come to mind?
Jess seems to be aware of Malcolm’s interest in another bartender, Emma, and it bothers her. However, Malcolm believes that being interested in someone else isn’t necessarily wrong. He says, “interest wasn’t a crime.” What do you think couples can realistically expect from each other in a long-term, committed relationship? Where do you draw the line between harmless interest and cheating?
The book mentions that up to 50 percent of pregnancies end in miscarriage, which might be surprising to some people. How do you think society generally views and treats miscarriage? Is it something that people are comfortable talking about with their friends and family? How do you feel about discussing miscarriage?
Malcolm and Jess have different dreams and financial concerns. Malcolm tells Jess that they can only afford one big dream because they’re not wealthy. How do you think money impacts their relationship and decision-making? How can a couple navigate conflicting goals and dreams while still maintaining a strong relationship?
Neil, a character in the book, offers something to Jess that Malcolm can’t, and vice versa. There’s a moment when Neil tells Jess that their lives will be better if she chooses to be with him, and they can be a family. What do you think it takes to create a family? How do you interpret Neil’s statement and the choices Jess has to make?
Secrets play a significant role in the novel for Jess, Malcolm, and the people connected to the Half Moon. How do these characters handle the aftermath when their secrets are revealed? Think about why Jess hasn’t told Malcolm about what happened in San Francisco. How much do you think we owe our partner in terms of disclosure in a relationship?
Both Malcolm and Jess have moments of infidelity, some big and some small, in their marriage. How do these acts of betrayal affect their relationship in different ways? How do you think forgiveness looks like for them? Can you think of examples of forgiveness in your own life or in the lives of people you know?
In the book, Jess questions what she really knows about Neil’s divorce because she has only heard his side of the story. This raises the question of how much we can truly understand about someone else’s marriage. What is your opinion of Neil based on what you’ve learned about him in the book? How much can we trust one person’s perspective when it comes to understanding the dynamics of a relationship?
The novel explores the complexities of forgiveness and the different forms it can take. Analyze the ways in which forgiveness is depicted in the story, particularly in the context of Malcolm and Jess’s marriage. How does forgiveness (or lack thereof) shape their relationship and personal growth?
The disappearance of a bar patron adds a mysterious element to the story. Discuss the significance of this subplot and how it intertwines with Malcolm and Jess’s journey. How does it impact the overall atmosphere and the characters’ actions?
On page 206, Jess reflects on the impact of the snowstorm and says, “No need to decide anything because it was not real life, not until the snow melted and the power was restored.” How do you think the isolation caused by the snowstorm affects the events in the story? Do you believe the outcome for Jess and Malcolm might have been different if they hadn’t been snowed in for a week? How might their situation have played out differently if they lived in a big city where they weren’t under the watchful eyes of a small town community?
Let’s discuss the quote: “To think that when they first said they loved each other, when they got married, when they bought the house and filled it with furniture and plates and bowls and lamps and all the clutter of domestic life, that all of that was aimed at a future they had no guarantee of reaching” (page 210). When a couple realizes that the life they had envisioned together may not be achievable, what choices do they have to make? How do couples navigate the decision to either stay together or separate? What factors do you think influenced Jess and Malcolm’s ultimate decision?
Jess contemplates who among their friends in Gillam would take her side over Malcolm’s, considering that some might sympathize with following a temptation to its conclusion or admire a woman who takes action to address her problems (page 225). Did you find yourself sympathizing with one character more than the other in this situation? What do you think influences our perspectives and judgments when it comes to relationship issues and moral dilemmas?
Friendship plays an important role in the novel. How do Jess and Malcolm’s friends support and look out for them throughout their struggles? In your opinion, what role should friends have when a couple is facing challenges in their marriage? How do you think friendship can impact the outcome of a relationship?
Jess comes up with a plan for her and Malcolm to start over in a different way. What are your thoughts on her plan? If you were in her situation, what choices would you have made?
Reflect on the portrayal of small-town living in The Half Moon. How does the tight-knit community influence the characters’ actions and relationships? Explore the theme of community and its role in the story.
The ending of the novel is described as both realistic and hopeful. Discuss your interpretation of the ending and how it reflects the characters’ growth and their journey throughout the book. Did you find the ending satisfying? Why or why not?

Selected Reviews for The Half Moon

“Deft, satisfying. . . . Keane writes in a realist vein–the vivid, domesticated world of Anne Tyler, of William Trevor, of Elizabeth Strout—but her insights into matters of the heart, longing and restlessness especially, have astonishing delicacy.” —Vogue

“A tale of midlife musings on second chances.” —TIME

“A quietly marvelous story of dreams, disappointments and second chances, but, mostly, love.” —Charmaine Wilkerson

Additional Recommendations

Hope you enjoyed my book club discussion questions and reading guide for The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane!

Here are some more of my book club recommendations:

All the Forgivenesses by Elizabeth Hardinger

Set in Appalachia and the Midwest at the turn of the twentieth century and inspired by the author’s family lore, this exquisite novel paints an intimately rendered portrait of one resilient farm family’s challenges and hard-won triumphs–helmed by an unforgettable heroine.

Growing up on their hardscrabble farm in rural Kentucky, fifteen-year-old Albertina “Bertie” Winslow has learned a lot from her mama, Polly. She knows how to lance a boil, make a pie crust, butcher a pig, and tend to every chore that needs doing. What she doesn’t know, but is forced to reckon with all too soon, is how to look after children as a mother should…

When Polly succumbs to a long illness, Bertie takes on responsibility for her four younger siblings and their dissolute, unreliable daddy. Yet no matter how hard she tries to hold the family together; the task is overwhelming. Nine-year-old Dacia, especially, is resentful and stubborn, hinting at secrets in their mama’s life. Finally, Bertie makes the only choice she can–breaking up the family for its own survival, keeping the girls with her, sending the boys off to their grown brothers, long gone from home.

Ever pragmatic, Bertie marries young, grateful to find a husband willing to take on the care of her sisters, and eventually moves to the oil fields of Kansas. But marriage alone cannot resolve the grief and guilt she carries over a long-ago tragedy, or prepare her for the heartaches still to come. Only by confronting wrenching truths can she open herself to joy–and learn how to not only give, but receive, unfettered love. Inspired by stories told by the author’s mother and aunts, All the Forgivenesses is as authentic as it is lyrical–a captivating novel of family loyalty, redemption, and resilience.

The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart

It takes courage to save yourself…

In the dense pine forests of North Carolina, turpentiners labor, hacking into tree trunks to draw out the sticky sap that gives the Tar Heel State its nickname, and hauling the resin to stills to be refined. Among them is Rae Lynn Cobb and her husband, Warren, who run a small turpentine farm together.

Though the work is hard and often dangerous, Rae Lynn, who spent her childhood in an orphanage, is thankful for it–and for her kind if careless husband. When Warren falls victim to his own negligence, Rae Lynn undertakes a desperate act of mercy. To keep herself from jail, she disguises herself as a man named “Ray” and heads to the only place she can think of that might offer anonymity–a turpentine camp in Georgia named Swallow Hill.

Swallow Hill is no easy haven. The camp is isolated and squalid, and commissary owner Otis Riddle takes out his frustrations on his browbeaten wife, Cornelia. Although Rae Lynn works tirelessly, she becomes a target for Crow, the ever-watchful woods rider who checks each laborer’s tally. Delwood Reese, who’s come to Swallow Hill hoping for his own redemption, offers “Ray” a small measure of protection, and is determined to improve their conditions. As Rae Lynn forges a deeper friendship with both Del and Cornelia, she begins to envision a path out of the camp. But she will have to come to terms with her past, with all its pain and beauty, before she can open herself to a new life and seize the chance to begin again.

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

How much can a family forgive?

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, rookie NYPD cops, are neighbors in the suburbs. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne, sets the stage for the explosive events to come.

In Mary Beth Keane’s extraordinary novel, a lifelong friendship and love blossoms between Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope, born six months apart. One shocking night their loyalties are divided, and their bond will be tested again and again over the next thirty years. Heartbreaking and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes is a gorgeous and generous portrait of the daily intimacies of marriage and the power of forgiveness.

Thank you for reading my book club discussion questions and as always, happy reading! ❤️