Anchor In The Storm Part 51

Had you heard about the U-boat war off the US East Coast in World War II before reading this novel? What did you find interesting or shocking?

Lillian Avery lives with a visible physical disability. How does it affect her? What negative consequences does she experience because of it? How is she stronger because of it? How have things changed for people with disabilities since 1942?

Arch Vandenberg fears being rich. What did you think about this? When you learned his history, how did this affect your opinion? What did you think of his decision at the end of the story? In general, what are the benefits and dangers of wealth?

At the beginning of the story, Lillian dismisses Arch as a sn.o.bby society boy. Then Arch challenges her: "I believe in judging a person on words and actions and character. Not on background or appearance." In what ways do both Lillian and Arch struggle with judging, suspicions, and lumping people into categories? In what ways do you struggle?

Arch suffers from combat fatigue, what we now call post-traumatic stress disorder. Were you surprised at how the condition was treated-or not treated-during World War II? Do you know anyone with this condition? How did Arch's story give you insight into their struggles?

Mr. Dixon is not the most pleasant boss, but Lillian does her best to win him over. Have you ever worked for a difficult person? How did you handle it?

As Arch and Lillian investigated the drug ring, whom did you suspect?

Lillian struggles to open her heart-to G.o.d, to Arch, and to her roommates. How does her relations.h.i.+p with Opal Harrison challenge her and cause her to grow?

Both Arch and Lillian cling to their careers for security. In what ways is this acceptable? In what ways is this misguided? How do they change?

Lillian is close to her brother Jim but has a strained relations.h.i.+p with her twin sister, Lucy. What sort of dynamics do you see in the Avery family? In your own family? Do you think Lillian and Lucy will ever be close? Why or why not?

Arch tells Lillian, "We'll be weak together, strong together, you and I." Do you find that to be true in your deepest relations.h.i.+ps? In what ways?

Discuss the meaning of the anchor.

"Blood is thicker than water"-how does this saying apply to Jim and Lillian? To Mrs. Harrison and her grandson? To Mr. Dixon? How have you seen it in your life?

In what ways did the weather mirror the characters' journeys?

If you read Through Waters Deep, did you enjoy following up with Jim Avery and Mary Stirling? The third novel in the Waves of Freedom series features Lt. Dan Avery and Quintessa Beaumont. From what you've seen of these characters, what might you expect?

Sarah Sundin is the author of Through Waters Deep as well as the Wings of the Nightingale and the Wings of Glory series. Her novella "I'll Be Home for Christmas" in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award, and her novel On Distant Sh.o.r.es was a double finalist for the 2014 Golden Scroll Awards. In 2011, Sarah received the Writer of the Year Award at the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. During WWII, her grandfather served as a pharmacist's mate (medic) in the Navy, and her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England. A mother of three, Sarah lives in northern California, and she enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers' groups.

Books by Sarah Sundin.

WINGS OF GLORY.

A Distant Melody.

A Memory Between Us.

Blue Skies Tomorrow.

WINGS OF THE NIGHTINGALE.

With Every Letter.

On Distant Sh.o.r.es.

In Perfect Time.

WAVES OF FREEDOM.

Through Waters Deep.

Anchor in the Storm.

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