Book Club Questions For Hungry Mother Creek
1. Maya immediately feels a sense of connection to the town of Oriental and the water around it. How does being close to the water and more connected to nature contribute to Maya’s healing? Discuss the role nature played in the plot of Hungry Mother Creek.
2. Maya is nervous about sharing her story at the fall equinox gathering and then surprised how powerful that experience is. Why do you think Maya chose to talk about her marriage and Steven’s death with the women in the circle, after having just met some of them? When Maya first met Bay at lunch in Toucans, Bay asked her about her husband and why she was in Oriental. Maya didn’t want to share her story with Bay even though she’d already done so in the circle. Why do you think she initially decided not to talk about her past with Bay?
3. Maya wasn’t brought up in a religious or spiritual home so doesn’t have a basic foundation to help her make sense of life. As Hungry Mother Creek progresses, Maya begins to feel a connection to something greater than herself when running, kayaking and sitting in the circle of women at the Mother Tree. How does Maya’s increased spirituality contribute to her healing? What questions are raised for Maya as she becomes more aware of her spirituality?
4. Throughout the novel, Maya and Violet struggle to stay focused on the present moment. Maya is analyzing her past and Violet is worrying about her future. What helps them stay more connected to the present? How does being more mindful help Violet and Maya?
5. Maya initially judges Bay as arrogant and self centered but by the end of the novel Maya and Bay have developed a supportive friendship. Why did Maya’s feelings change towards Bay? In what ways did her relationship with Bay help Maya?
6. Maya and Travis begin a relationship based on fun, being in the moment, and mutual physical attraction. When Maya finds out the truth about Travis and sees how this opens up old wounds from her marriage, she ends the relationship. Was this the best choice? Could staying in the relationship have helped Maya in her healing process? Do you think she would have made a different choice if they’d had sex?
7. Bay is faced with the choice of doing the “right” thing and fulfilling others expectations or following a path she feels will lead to her ultimate fulfillment. Do you think Bay made the right choice to divorce Holden and leave him in Laura’s care? What other options could she have chosen? Why do you think Maya supports Bay’s decision?
8. Maya has a perception that if a woman is physically beautiful somehow her life should be easier. As she gets to know Ella, Maya sees the burden that outer beauty can bring. How does Ella’s beauty interfere with creating meaningful relationships? What could Ella do differently to make friends? Compare and contrast the role outer beauty plays in the lives of Ella and Bay.
9. Buster and Lilith seem to show up just when they are needed. Discuss the ways they both support Maya and Hazel.
10. When the women gather around Hazel’s bed as she is dying, they hold hands and stand silently, reflecting on what she meant to them. Do you think this was the right choice or should they have done something different to honor Hazel? Do you think Hazel had made peace with her life decisions before she died?
11. Were you surprised at the contents of Hazel’s will? What ideas did you have about Hazel’s neat office, file cabinet and out of town visitors? Maya now has the responsibility of managing Hazel’s philanthropic trust fund. If you were in Maya’s position, what causes and organizations would you support?
12. What theme or storyline could you most identify with in the book? Why?
2. Maya is nervous about sharing her story at the fall equinox gathering and then surprised how powerful that experience is. Why do you think Maya chose to talk about her marriage and Steven’s death with the women in the circle, after having just met some of them? When Maya first met Bay at lunch in Toucans, Bay asked her about her husband and why she was in Oriental. Maya didn’t want to share her story with Bay even though she’d already done so in the circle. Why do you think she initially decided not to talk about her past with Bay?
3. Maya wasn’t brought up in a religious or spiritual home so doesn’t have a basic foundation to help her make sense of life. As Hungry Mother Creek progresses, Maya begins to feel a connection to something greater than herself when running, kayaking and sitting in the circle of women at the Mother Tree. How does Maya’s increased spirituality contribute to her healing? What questions are raised for Maya as she becomes more aware of her spirituality?
4. Throughout the novel, Maya and Violet struggle to stay focused on the present moment. Maya is analyzing her past and Violet is worrying about her future. What helps them stay more connected to the present? How does being more mindful help Violet and Maya?
5. Maya initially judges Bay as arrogant and self centered but by the end of the novel Maya and Bay have developed a supportive friendship. Why did Maya’s feelings change towards Bay? In what ways did her relationship with Bay help Maya?
6. Maya and Travis begin a relationship based on fun, being in the moment, and mutual physical attraction. When Maya finds out the truth about Travis and sees how this opens up old wounds from her marriage, she ends the relationship. Was this the best choice? Could staying in the relationship have helped Maya in her healing process? Do you think she would have made a different choice if they’d had sex?
7. Bay is faced with the choice of doing the “right” thing and fulfilling others expectations or following a path she feels will lead to her ultimate fulfillment. Do you think Bay made the right choice to divorce Holden and leave him in Laura’s care? What other options could she have chosen? Why do you think Maya supports Bay’s decision?
8. Maya has a perception that if a woman is physically beautiful somehow her life should be easier. As she gets to know Ella, Maya sees the burden that outer beauty can bring. How does Ella’s beauty interfere with creating meaningful relationships? What could Ella do differently to make friends? Compare and contrast the role outer beauty plays in the lives of Ella and Bay.
9. Buster and Lilith seem to show up just when they are needed. Discuss the ways they both support Maya and Hazel.
10. When the women gather around Hazel’s bed as she is dying, they hold hands and stand silently, reflecting on what she meant to them. Do you think this was the right choice or should they have done something different to honor Hazel? Do you think Hazel had made peace with her life decisions before she died?
11. Were you surprised at the contents of Hazel’s will? What ideas did you have about Hazel’s neat office, file cabinet and out of town visitors? Maya now has the responsibility of managing Hazel’s philanthropic trust fund. If you were in Maya’s position, what causes and organizations would you support?
12. What theme or storyline could you most identify with in the book? Why?