Christian Fiction Devourers discussion
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Archived Group Buddy Reads 2020
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August Group Buddy Read - The King's Mercy by Lori Benton
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I am almost finished with this book and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Benton's writing about happenings in the very early frontier days on the east coast is always wonderful.Who's joining me?
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Great! I finished it yesterday; and as always, Lori Benton did a great job of creating a wonderful story.
I am reading it now. It's taken me a little bit to get in to it, but definitely enjoying it!
Glad to hear that Christine. Lori Benton is one of my favorite authors for early American historical fiction.
Order it from the library and hope it comes before August is done. Sometimes the library goes fast but then sometimes the library takes forever!! Let's see what happens!!
I'm currently reading this - only 30%, took me a while to get into this - started Sunday.
I just finished it yesterday and am looking forward to the discussion.
I will be posting discussion questions on Aug 15th.
Hi Everyone! Thanks for choosing The King's Mercy as an August read. Hope it's been a good reading experience for you, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have beyond what's covered in your discussion. I'll check back a little later in the month once your discussion gets going. ~ Lori
Thanks Lori so much for dropping in! I have loved all of your books that I have read. When and how did you get started writing?
Lori: Is this
the same Mount Laurel mentioned in
and sort of connected?
Here are the discussion questions for The King's Mercy. Please use the spoiler alert if you are going to be talking about a specific part in the book since not everyone may have finished reading. It can be found above the comment box where it says some html is ok. Please feel free to answer any or all of the questions, post a question of your own, or just bring up something you would like to discuss:1. Joanna Carey bears a burden from which she longs to be free. What is the source, or sources, of this burden? Do you think it is partly self-inflicted? Why?
2. After imprisonment and exile, Alex MacKinnon believes he will navigate life best by looking out for himself alone. This causes him both inner and outer conflict. How has this belief changed by the end of the story/ Who or what were the greatest influences in this change?
3. Alex and Joanna seem an unlikely pairing, yet as they grow acquainted, they each discover strengths in the other they lack and admire. What are these strengths?
4. Alex has the gift of empowering others with a sense of self-worth and purpose. At what point, does he operate in this gifting despite his will to the contrary?
5. A number of secondary characters experience their own emotional journeys in this story. Which of them do you find most engaging Why does that character resonate with you.
6. The relationship between Phineas Reeves and Demas, the slave he helped to freedom, is darkly codependent, complicated, and discomfiting. When did you first suspect Reeves was behind most of the tragedies that befell the Careys? Were you surprised by Demas' final actions?
7. The theme of mercy is explored in this story. Which characters needed mercy? Which characters showed it? Which characters denied it to another?
8. Suffering and an individual's response to it is another theme explored. Each of the story's main characters experience suffering but their responses are vastly different. With whose response do you most identify?
9. Of Joanna and Alex, which do you believe had the most difficult path through this story in terms of their relationship with God?
10. Of the three regions of North Carolina the characters inhabit - low country (Severn), Piedmont (Mountain Laurel), and mountains (Crooked Branch's town) which is your favorite setting and why?
Discussion Question #5 A number of secondary characters experience their own emotional journeys in this story. Which of them do you find most engaging? Why does that character resonate with you?Elijah was a strong secondary character, and he resonated with me. I've not suffered grievous physical injury but have been badly hurt, so I felt his anger and pain at his injury as he struck out at those around him, especially those who were closest to him. Sometimes it's anger or hurt and sometimes its pride, but I've pushed away well-meaning people who are trying to help. Haven't you? His journey to healing was long and arduous, and it was interesting how he kept coaching Alex about dealing with certain issues, but wasn't dealing with his own (pointing out the speck in someone's eye while missing the log in their own?) Or perhaps it's easier to help someone else than deal with your own situation. (Been there!)
6. The relationship between Phineas Reeves and Demas, the slave he helped to freedom, is darkly codependent, complicated, and discomfiting. When did you first suspect Reeves was behind most of the tragedies that befell the Careys? Were you surprised by Demas' final actions?Yes, I thought there would be redemption for Phineas.
7. The theme of mercy is explored in this story. Which characters needed mercy? Which characters showed it? Which characters denied it to another?
I think Joanna and Alex showed Mercy to the other workers.
Mari and Elijah needed mercy but Joanna's stepfather denied them when they discovered Mari is pregnant - I mean buying your own child.
9. Of Joanna and Alex, which do you believe had the most difficult path through this story in terms of their relationship with God?
For me Alex's journey was stronger - he had to believe God is real and there for him and learn to trust God. Joanna already had this strong faith in God, she just needed to realise what she wants and step out in faith an courage.
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~I'm honestly not sure either one had a more difficult path . . . at the buffalo jump where Alex calls out to God to protect Runs Far, he realises that he's seen many miracles, which in turn, lead him to understand that he must trust in the God of miracles. At that same time, he also understands that despite NOT having a witness of miracles, Joanna still chooses to believe. I don't necessarily think that one path is more difficult than the other . . . just different.
5. A number of secondary characters experience their own emotional journeys in this story. Which of them do you find most engaging Why does that character resonate with you.
~As I mentioned in my review of the book, the secondary characters were 'drawn' in such a way that I felt like I knew them almost as vividly as Alex and Joanna. I loved that! I think I identified most with Jemma/Walnut. From almost the beginning of the novel, my heart went out to her. When I read about her reaction to Reeves and Demas, and paired it with her choosing to cut her hair and dress in boy's clothing, I was fairly certain that she'd been sexually abused. To have Charlotte note that Jemma was different 'like Mari' confirmed it to me, and my heart absolutely broke for her. As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I understood why Jemma made the choices she did, and was so pleased when she was able to find 'her people' in the end.
Kate wrote: "9. Of Joanna and Alex, which do you believe had the most difficult path through this story in terms of their relationship with God?~I'm honestly not sure either one had a more difficult path . . ...."
My heart also went out to Jemma/Walnut - it was clear with her physical appearance changes something happened and I def suspected Reeves. Was so sad that no one close to her could see the signs.
To have Charlotte note that Jemma was different 'like Mari' confirmed it to me - now afterwards this makes sense (I can see the hint given) that she was pregnant.
Sarita wrote: "6. The relationship between Phineas Reeves and Demas, the slave he helped to freedom, is darkly codependent, complicated, and discomfiting. When did you first suspect Reeves was behind most of the ..."I agree about Alex's journey vs. Joanna's. The faith was already there, she had to unearth it whereas he had to find it by coming face to face with his need for God. I thought the scene in which he did come to faith was well done.
Kate wrote: "9. Of Joanna and Alex, which do you believe had the most difficult path through this story in terms of their relationship with God?~I'm honestly not sure either one had a more difficult path . . ...."
I've not suffered as you or Jemma, but having worked in an abused women's shelter I recognized the signs and behaviors, so thought that might have been the issue. I was so glad she was able to find her people too.
I loved Jemma and felt for her. I suspected she had been abused. I was thrilled the Alex let her go with him and that she found her family.
Loraine wrote: "I loved Jemma and felt for her. I suspected she had been abused. I was thrilled the Alex let her go with him and that she found her family."Jemma's story is probably one of my favourites for the secondary characters. She was actually such an innocent person, especially when she thought the baby was worms...
She was very innocent even though her innocence was stolen from her. I think that was why Alex was so protective of her.
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Christian Fiction Devourers
Books mentioned in this topic
Mountain Laurel (other topics)The King's Mercy (other topics)
The King's Mercy (other topics)
When captured rebel Scotsman Alex MacKinnon is granted the king's mercy--exile to the Colony of North Carolina--he's indentured to Englishman Edmund Carey as a blacksmith. Against his will Alex is drawn into the struggles of Carey's slaves--and those of his stepdaughter, Joanna Carey. A mistress with a servant's heart, Joanna is expected to wed her father's overseer, Phineas Reeves, but finds herself drawn instead to the new blacksmith. As their unlikely relationship deepens, successive tragedies strike the Careys. When blame falls unfairly upon Alex he flees to the distant mountains where he encounters Reverend Pauling, itinerate preacher and friend of the Careys, now a prisoner of the Cherokees. Haunted by his abandoning of Joanna, Alex tries to settle into life with the Cherokees, until circumstances thwart yet another attempt to forge his freedom and he's faced with the choice that's long hounded him: continue down his rebellious path or embrace the faith of a man like Pauling, whose freedom in Christ no man can steal. But the price of such mercy is total surrender, and perhaps Alex's very life