It’s book club discussion time for our first pick of 2015: If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie (Hogarth). In the novel Will is a young boy who lives in two worlds: Outside and Inside. Due to his mother’s severe agoraphobia, he’s lived Inside for most of his life. So what happens when breaks the rules and goes outside?
Filled with many dichotomies, this novel inspired a wide range of responses from our book club members. Head over to their blogs to read our book club discussion for If I Fall, If I Die:
- Morninglight mama from my thoughts exactly reflects on feeling disappointed in herself as a parent.
- Kate shares thoughts on the wonderfulness of solitude on Kate’s Point of View.
- Alicia S from Titere con Bonete fears retirement due to experiences when her daughter was born.
- Cristie at Reinvention Girl wonders if you can pass down your own quirks to your kids and wreck them forever.
- Ange of Cowgirl Runs reflects on how the little things can make our days better.
- Jennifer Evers from Me, Myself and Jen shares how she feels about her magical middle child.
- Tasha at Frozen OJ worries she may become agoraphobic.
- Kelly of Cupcake Kelly’s writes about how fear increases when we raise children.
- Jenn from Momma on the Rocks talks about her anxiety – and on trying NOT to pass it on to her children.
- Nancy at the Real Nani wonders where anxiety comes from.
- Jane T. discusses strange fears and phobias at Live Like It’s Shark Week.
- Dannie at DannieSpeaks no longer beats herself up over parenting.
- Emily from The Polished Bookworm deals with her sons’ quests for independence.
- Raya at And Starring as Herself is grateful she can be open with depression and not pass this legacy to her children.
- Melissa of Life with Sophia wrestles with parental anxiety.
- Jennifer Wolfe from mamawolfe shares the anxieties of motherhood, wishing her children would stay safe Inside.
- Melanie at tales from the crib faces Outside because of her kids.
- Michelle from Honest & Truly! had to institute the “no blood no foul” rule in her house.
- Janaki of More than Four Sides was struck by the imagery of the Black Lagoon to symbolize the trap of mental illness.
- Val at Children Of The Old School recalls how she recently had to make a choice.
- Jen from Anybody Want a Peanut explores the realization that sometimes the worst things do happen.
- Jennifer of Ramblings of a Semi-Conscious Mastermind Mommy wonders why shouldn’t she be afraid, but thinks she’s done ok so far.
- Vaneese at Mommy Works a Lot wonders if her fears are stifling her child.
- Ashley from Ashley, Unabashed writes about how she coped with her less than perfect childhood.
- Carrie of Poet in the Pantry considers her own troubles with Inside and Outside and how it impacts her children.
Have you experienced anxiety or fears like our book club members have?
Visit Michael Christie at his website, Facebook, and Twitter. Grab a copy of If I Fall, If I Dieand share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
About The Author
Thien-Kim
Thien-Kim is Editor of From Left to Write. She sneaks in her reading time late at night after her family is sound asleep. She also writes at I'm Not the Nanny.
Interesting how we read a book about one person’s anxiety and all of our own anxieties come spilling forth.