Book Clubs

Candace is available to meet with book clubs, either virtually or in person, to discuss Goodbye Again. If you’re interested in having her as a guest at your book club, please email candace_cahill@yahoo.com.

Discussion Questions

1. Candace’s internal dialogue haunts her throughout the book. How do you think trauma affects one’s inner critic? Do you have an inner voice, and if so, how does it impact your life?
2. What if Candace had been provided help and guidance to keep her son? Do you think she would have still succeeded in college, career, and love?
3. Candace named her son Foster Cameron. Do you think that made it harder for her to give him up?
4. What did you think about Candace’s choice to stop requesting updates from the adoptive family? Do you think it would be important to keep a dialogue open between a first and an adoptive family?
5. Was Candace right to listen to the advice to let Michael lead the way, or should she have pushed for more contact? Is there anything Candace could have done to better cope while waiting for Michael to take the next steps?
6. Do you think it would have benefited Candace to know when Jane passed away? Did you think Candace’s feelings of betrayal were unjust?
7. For years Candace coped by stating that she didn’t regret giving Michael up for adoption – that it was the best choice for him. How do you think Michael would have responded to hearing that?
8. Candace’s mother’s statement that Michael was “dead to her” played a significant role in their relationship – or lack thereof. If Candace had realized earlier that it was merely her mother’s way to cope with the loss, do you think they would have reconciled earlier?
9. How important was it that Tom helped Candace view Michael’s birthday and Mother’s Day as celebrations? Do you think she ever would have done so without his help?
10. Do you think Candace held ill will toward her mother for being the first person to hold her son? Do you think it impacted their relationship?
11. Candace developed a close relationship with David. What do you think about their relationship? If Jane had lived, do you think Candace would have developed a close relationship with her as well, or would Candace have always treated Jane as “the other mother”?
12. Should Candace have sought professional help? Should Tom have encouraged her to get counseling? What could have helped Candace through the trauma of child relinquishment?
13. Had Candace not made it to Michael’s funeral in time, how would that have impacted the relationship between her and David? Do you think she could have ever healed without the help
    and support of Michael’s adoptive family?
14. Why do you think Candace called her mom from the airport to tell her of Michael’s death?
15. Do you think Candace should have tried to prevent her mother from coming to the funeral to lessen her distress?
16. Why do you think it took Candace so long to differentiate between being a good mother and being a good person and coming to forgive her mother and herself?
17. Although Candace avoids referencing abandonment issues from her biological father, how do you think that affected her inner voices after placing Michael for adoption?
18. What are some examples of the dichotomies, two things being true at one time, in this memoir? Do you have examples from your own life?

Thank you for reading. Please help other readers find Goodbye Again by rating and reviewing wherever you get your books.

Do you have ideas for Book Club questions? Please send your suggestions via email to candace_cahill@yahoo.com.