Questions About A Complicated Kindness

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Meagan When we feel rejected, as did Quiring, because Trudie chose her family over him - we do spiteful, hateful things. Every action we do, has a reation - …moreWhen we feel rejected, as did Quiring, because Trudie chose her family over him - we do spiteful, hateful things. Every action we do, has a reation - Trudie had an affair with Quiring because she lost her older daughter, she then realized her mistake, Quiring threatened her with accusations, Trudie saved those notes, Nomi wrote her final school paper about the effects those accusations had on the three people left in her family - her father, mother, and herself. Quiring's threats had consequences, and destroyed people in the process. I don't believe that she opened Mrs. K's doors to numerous men - I believe it was one - Quiring. (less)

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Why would Nomi's mom just disappear without contacting her daughter? Was she killed by Quiring? Why would Nomi's dad then disappear, and where did he go? I just don't buy the storyline that these kind parents both abandon their anguished, confused daughter out of kindness, i.e. to allow her to be free. I thought the rest of the book was poignant, engaging, compelling, but then just fell flat trying to wrap it up.

Jennifer The underage members of the Mennonite communities are not included in the shunning meetings. I suspect Trudie was shunned and that is why she disappea…moreThe underage members of the Mennonite communities are not included in the shunning meetings. I suspect Trudie was shunned and that is why she disappeared. Leaving in silence because while Trudie questioned some of the church's teachings not all of them and maybe not enough to stay in the area openly oppose the church. Doing so could mean her husband and daughter becoming targets of the church as well.

Or the church could have sent her off as a forced missionary in an attempt to bring her alongside with their regulations.

Ray is less questioning than his wife but is broken by her absence. (less)

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I don't understand why Nomi and Ray didn't just leave together at the end? If they were both going to leave anyways?

Jennifer

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