Book Club Question for The Lightkeeper's Daughters:
- The Lightkeeper’s Daughters is primarily narrated from two points of view, that of Elizabeth Livingstone and Morgan Fletcher. Which character did you more closely identify with? Why?
- In many ways, Lake Superior evolves as a character, affecting the lives of the Livingstone family. Do you see the Lake as an ally or adversary? Why?
- In the case of Morgan’s transgression, does the punishment fit the crime? What is she supposed to learn from her time at the Boreal Retirement Home versus what she actually learns? What does Morgan mean when she says, “I’m invisible except to the one person who is blind”?
- Elizabeth and Morgan both find themselves transported by music, though their tastes differ, while Emily’s preferred medium is painting. How do the arts comfort and uplift us?
- The journals that are discovered on Charlie’s boat reveal many family secrets, ones both painful and redeeming. If you had access to that much knowledge about your past, would you reach for it? Is there any way in which it’s better not to know about the skeletons in your family’s closet?
- How does Morgan use toughness as a defense mechanism? How does Elizabeth break down the girl’s defenses?
- What kind of man was Elizabeth and Emily’s father, Andrew Livingstone? What about his character made him seek out a job like lighthouse-keeping? What did you think of Lil as a character? Why do you think she was so distant from Emily and Elizabeth?
- Marty plays a subtle but influential role in the relationship between Elizabeth and Morgan. How much do you think he knows or suspects about the relationship between the two of them? Why?
- Porphyry (pronounced por’-fer-ree) Island is located on Lake Superior, on the southern end of Black Bay, east of the Sleeping Giant and northeast of Isle Royale. The island takes its name from the quartz and feldspar crystals, or porphyries, found in the volcanic rocks that make up the island. In what way does this reflect the characters in The Lightkeeper’s Daughters?
- The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world, symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. Why do you think the author chose dragonflies as a recurring motif in the book?
- Is there any excuse for what Lil does to Emily? Does she deserve her daughters’ forgiveness? Does Charlie deserve his sisters’ forgiveness?
- There are many twists throughout the story. Which one surprised or affected you the most?
- At the end of the story, Morgan makes the decision to respect Emily’s unspoken request not to share Elizabeth’s true identity as learned in the pages of Andrew Livingstone’s journals. Why do you think Morgan decides to do this? If you were in Morgan’s position, what would you do?
- Elizabeth speaks of being stalked by wolves in her dreams. What is the symbolism of the wolf? What is the relationship between Emily and wolves and Elizabeth and wolves throughout the story?
- Do you feel Morgan has changed by the end of the story? In what ways? Do you feel Elizabeth has been changed by knowing Morgan?