Christian Fiction Devourers discussion
Archived BOTM & GBR 2023
>
Feburary's Book of the Month - Through Waters Deep (Waves of Freedom #1) by Sarah Sundin
date
newest »
newest »
I'm joining you. Will be picking up my copy from the library next week.
Just downloaded this one, so will be joining in on this one.
Mod
Hi,First time with the group. Just requested this book from my local library.
Jennifer wrote: "Hi,First time with the group. Just requested this book from my local library."
Glad you are joining us Jennifer. Discussion questions are posted mid-month to allow time for people to read the book. Welcome!
My Libby hold came through! Started this one today.
Mod
I just downloaded this on kindle and I look forward to reading this with you all. I listened to some of of her other books on audible and I have really enjoyed them.
I finished this one last month. Even though I didn’t have audio I managed to read it very quickly as I enjoyed it so much …. I’m looking forward to joining the discussion:)
Based on this reading group, I requested this book from the library. I’m glad I did as it had all my favorite things. It was based in Boston, during WWII, with a focus on faith, and a clean story. I was grateful for the author’s note at the end explaining the use of “El” versus “T” and “Boston Navy Yard” instead of “Charlestown Navy Yard”.
Mod
Enjoying this one! But I always enjoy Sarah Sundin!
Kate wrote: "I just finished this last night and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the discussion next week!"Hi,
Where do I find the date/time of the discussion?
Many thanks!
Mod
Hi,
Where do I find the date/time of the discussion?
Many thanks!"
Sorry if my comment caused confusion. We don't have a 'formal' discussion time, but every month on the 15th, our discussion leader (for this month, it's Loraine) will post questions, and from there on out, we can answer questions, pose our own, and generally discuss the book without worrying about putting anything under the spoiler tags. HTH!😊
Just finished this one at lunch. Enjoyed it very much since I had just read one last month based in Scotland about the American escort ships for the British to take supplies to Russia - which I had never heard about. So I enjoyed the "American side" to the story. I always enjoy Ms. Sundin's books. They always bring something knew to the warfront that I never knew before.
Kate thanks for helping Jennifer out with her question. Yes discussion begins about the 15th give or take! I am a senior and care for my disabled husband so occasionally it slips by me. Senior moments come more often as you get older LOL:) But it sure doesn't stop me from devouring books!!!
Mod
Mod
Thank you!
Andrea wrote: "I just signed a writing contract, so I need to back out of this buddy read, as my reading time just got sliced for a very happy reason."Congratulations!
Mod
Kate wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Kate wrote: "I just finished this last night and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the discussion next week!"Hi,
Where do I find the date/time of the discussion?
Many thanks..."
Thanks for the response, Kate. First time book with the group, so I wasn't sure what the process was. Many thanks!
Here are the questions for discussion:1.) Do you know anyone who served in the Navy during World War II? Have you ever been on board a WWII-era ship? What did you think?
2.) Were you surprised at the divisiveness in America in 1941, given how united the nation was after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Do you see any parallels in today’s world?
3.) Mary suffers from a fear of attention. How does this hold her back? How has she sabotaged herself because of it? And how does she learn to overcome?
4.) Mary tries to reconcile the godly principles of humility and letting your candle shine. How does she do so?
5.) Jim has always floated with the current, and he struggles to be bold when necessary. How does he change throughout the story?
6.) What did you think of the various sabotage suspects? Who was highest on your list?
7.) Mary loved reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a girl and is thrilled to have her own mystery to solve. Is there anything you’ve always longed to do because of a book or movie?
8.) Both Mary and Jim are deeply affected by childhood events. How did those events shape their characters? Their fears? Why do childhood vents seem to have a greater impact on us than similar events later in life?
9.) Mary and Quintessa have been friends since childhood. What strength do you see in their friendship? What weaknesses? How about with Jim and Arch?
10.) Argent Sheffield wants the cold hard facts and scoffs at Mary’s notebooks at first. Do you think the information she gathered would have been useful?
11.) Sailing is symbolic in this story. How do you see this?
Please feel free to answer any or all questions. Also if you have a question or comment of your own feel free to post that.
Mod
~I can't recall if my grandfather served in the Navy, or in the Merchant Marines. Either way, both of those services factored into this story, and it was sobering to me to think of what he might have faced at such a young age. (He lied about his age in order to enlist.)
4.) Mary tries to reconcile the godly principles of humility and letting your candle shine. How does she do so?
~I loved this part! She learned to ask herself who was being glorified. When we do something for the glory of God, even if attention is on us, we are letting our light shine before men to see God's good work!
1.) Do you know anyone who served in the Navy during World War II? Have you ever been on board a WWII-era ship? What did you think?My Uncle Jim was a navigator for the Canadian Air Force in WW II. His plane was shot down on his first flight. He spent the entire war in 10 different German POW camps. When he came home, at 6 foot tall he only weighed 84 pounds. It took him a long time to gain back the weight he had lost.
My husband and I have been on several World War II ships. The USS Texas and the USS Lexington. It is quite interesting to see these ships and imagine how life was for the military who served on these ships. We also toured a World War II submarine and a destroyer.
1.) Do you know anyone who served in the Navy during World War II? Have you ever been on board a WWII-era ship? What did you think?My grandpa and all his brothers, except his oldest and youngest served in the Navy in WWII. His youngest brother actually quit high school to enlist. I can't remember the ship he was on, but he went to San Diego every year for the reunion.
We have visited several ships - USS Alabama, watched the 4th of July fireworks from the deck of the USS Yorktown in Charleston, and a few of the little ships around those. I have even toured the U-boat they have at the museum in Chicago.
My son who is 10 loves WWII and anything about it (planes, tanks, guns). We are taking a small trip this year, because next years trip is to Hawaii so he can see Pearl Harbor. He has already told us in a couple of years we are going to France so he can see Normandy, so better start saving now for that one too.
2.) Were you surprised at the divisiveness in America in 1941, given how united the nation was after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Do you see any parallels in today’s world?
Not really. Living in the South now, you see it pretty much every day, and I hate to say I think it is rising even now again. I think Pearl Harbor brought the nation together, but it still had its color boundries as far as what whites vs. blacks vs. Native Americans and what they were able to do, or how far in the ranks they could advance.
1.) Do you know anyone who served in the Navy during World War II? Have you ever been on board a WWII-era ship? What did you think?No
2.) Were you surprised at the divisiveness in America in 1941, given how united the nation was after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Do you see any parallels in today’s world?
Yes, though I do know they tried to stay out of it until Pearl Harbor. I think there will always be parallels, because sometimes it is easier to remain neutral than get our hands dirty, be it abuse, human trafficking, starvations or countries being controlled by corrupt government.
3.) Mary suffers from a fear of attention. How does this hold her back? How has she sabotaged herself because of it? And how does she learn to overcome?
I think it mainly hold her back to do things which she loved, but when she learned that God gave her that gift or purpose to shine the light on Him, she was able todo things she loved easier.
4.) Mary tries to reconcile the godly principles of humility and letting your candle shine. How does she do so?
I think by checking her heart and why she wants to do something.
5.) Jim has always floated with the current, and he struggles to be bold when necessary. How does he change throughout the story?
When he realised that being bold is not the same as being reckless, he was able to stand up for things he wanted later in the story.
6.) What did you think of the various sabotage suspects? Who was highest on your list?
Dunning was my main suspect for most of the story.
7.) Mary loved reading Nancy Drew mysteries as a girl and is thrilled to have her own mystery to solve. Is there anything you’ve always longed to do because of a book or movie?
Swim with a dolphin
8.) Both Mary and Jim are deeply affected by childhood events. How did those events shape their characters? Their fears? Why do childhood vents seem to have a greater impact on us than similar events later in life?
It kept them back from stepping out and doing what God's want them to do. I think when you are small things have a deeper traumatic impact and you always remember how you felt.
9.) Mary and Quintessa have been friends since childhood. What strength do you see in their friendship? What weaknesses? How about with Jim and Arch?
Quintessa was able to be a voice and strenght to Mary when they were younger and give her confidence, but later it was more overbearing than supportive.
Jim and Arch were honest with each other and made challenged each other to make right decisions.
10.) Argent Sheffield wants the cold hard facts and scoffs at Mary’s notebooks at first. Do you think the information she gathered would have been useful?
Yes.
11.) Sailing is symbolic in this story. How do you see this?
God also guides us, we just need to let go and feel his guidance and know that he will guide us with safety, the same as how you still need to follow steps and control when sailing.
Unfortunately I fell way behind in my reading this month and will not be able to join you. I will be reading it later this year.
Karen wrote: "Unfortunately I fell way behind in my reading this month and will not be able to join you. I will be reading it later this year."That happens to all of us sometimes, so read it when you have time.
1.) Do you know anyone who served in the Navy during World War II? Have you ever been on board a WWII-era ship? What did you think?I have family that was in the Army but not the Navy. I did have the opportunity to visit Pear Harbor and tour the submarine museum. It was really eye opening as to just how cramped the quarters would have been.
2.) Were you surprised at the divisiveness in America in 1941, given how united the nation was after the attack on Pearl Harbor? Do you see any parallels in today’s world?
I was surprised by this. I guess there are always reasons to be divided but it always weakens instead of strengthens. There is more division today than I have seen before in my lifetime.
3.) Mary suffers from a fear of attention. How does this hold her back? How has she sabotaged herself because of it? And how does she learn to overcome?
I loved how Mary was attentive to the teaching from the Lord as she prayed about her fear. I can relate as I have always feared speaking in front of groups. It was interesting that she came to the point of realizing that she had missed some things in life that could have been worth participating in because she gave in to fear. There is definitely inspiration to be taken from that!
4.) Mary tries to reconcile the godly principles of humility and letting your candle shine. How does she do so?
I think the key is looking at the heart. If the intent is to promote self or to be seen by others, this may lead to prideful attitudes that are opposite of humility. But you can lead others and still be humble and letting your light shine.
5.) Jim has always floated with the current, and he struggles to be bold when necessary. How does he change throughout the story?
Jim realized that sometimes God wants us to get out of the boat. Peter would have never experienced walking on water if he stayed in the boat. But I loved that Jim prayed before stepping out in boldness asking for God’s direction.
6.) What did you think of the various sabotage suspects? Who was highest on your list?
This had me confused to the very end. I really thought Yvette was somehow more involved.
8.) Both Mary and Jim are deeply affected by childhood events. How did those events shape their characters? Their fears? Why do childhood vents seem to have a greater impact on us than similar events later in life?
Childhood forms us into who will become as adults. We carry the good and the bad with us and it shapes us. As children, we don’t yet have the skills to think through things. Kids always find away to blame themselves. We see that in this story with Jim.
11.) Sailing is symbolic in this story. How do you see this?
I think it is symbolic of our life’s journey. We can choose to just float on the water and be tossed by everything around us. Or we can choose to guide our course and keep on the path ahead.
It is 1941 and America teeters on the brink of war. Outgoing naval officer Ensign Jim Avery escorts British convoys across the North Atlantic in a brand-new destroyer, the USS Atwood. Back on shore, Boston Navy Yard secretary Mary Stirling does her work quietly and efficiently, happy to be out of the limelight. Yet, despite her reserved nature, she never could back down from a challenge. When evidence of sabotage on the Atwood is found, Jim and Mary must work together to uncover the culprit. A bewildering maze of suspects emerges, and Mary is dismayed to find that even someone close to her is under suspicion. With the increasing pressure, Jim and Mary find that many new challenges--and dangers--await them.
Who is joining me in February's Book of the Month?