How do their reactions to this tragedy differ? And how do these differences ultimately determine the fate of Bibi and of their marriage?ĩ.

Richard and his wife, Anita, go through the devastating experience of losing their baby son. How do their interactions reflect each of their personalities?Ĩ. Compare the companionship between Richard and the four cats and between Lucia and Marcelo. What qualities does she have that help her face her life as an exile? Do you know of anyone who is an exile? What special difficulties do they share? How do the challenges of Lucia’s exile compare with Evelyn’s challenges as a refugee?ħ. Lucia loses her brother during the political turmoil in Chile during the early 1970s and is forced to flee the country, eventually becoming an exile in Canada. What positive things has each of them given to Evelyn?Ħ. When Evelyn leaves her native village, she tells her grandmother Concepcion, 'Just as I am going, Grandma, so I will return.' Compare Evelyn’s relationship with her grandmother to her relationship with her mother, Miriam. Why is she so successful at caring for him? In what ways does she expand his horizons? Do you know of someone who works with people who are physically, mentally, or emotionally challenged? Do they share any of Evelyn‘s character traits?ĥ. Evelyn‘s relationship with Frankie is very special, and reveals a lot about her character. Do you know of any immigrants in these kinds of jobs? Do they encounter any difficulties similar to Evelyn’s? How do Frankie’s parents treat Evelyn? Why does she seem 'invisible' to Frankie’s father?Ĥ. Many immigrants in the United States currently work in caretaker jobs: as nannies taking care of small children, or as home health aides caring for the sick, elderly, or dying. Do you agree? Why or why not? Did this book change the way you think about immigrants? If so, how?ģ. Why did they leave their native countries, and what were their first experiences as immigrants? Did you find any aspects of Evelyn’s journey surprising? It is said that the United States is a country of immigrants, and that immigrants made this country great. Compare her experience entering the country with that of other immigrants you know of or have read about.

Evelyn comes to the United States as a refugee fleeing violence. In what other ways is she isolated? How is her isolation different from Evelyn’s? And from Richard’s?Ģ. The book begins with Lucia physically isolated in her apartment during a snowstorm. Each of the three main characters-Lucia, Evelyn, and Richard-experiences some kind of isolation in their present life.

Isabel allende's in the of winter