Stardust A Novel (38 page)
- The Stardust Tourist Cottages held Georgia’s earliest memories of her parents. What is your earliest memory? Can you picture where it took place? Have you ever revisited it or the home where you lived as a child?
- Georgia always longed to know why her parents left her. Was it right for Aunt Cora to withhold the truth from her? What part did society’s pressures play in Cora Tickle’s actions? Is it the same or different today in regard to having children out of wedlock? In what ways?
- O’Dell had a wandering eye even before Georgia married him, but her aunt insisted she go through with the wedding. Was this good advice? How much of it came from Cora’s past experience? Have you ever felt forced to make a decision in order to please someone else? What were the results?
- Georgia clung to her dream to keep the Stardust open even when adversity came. Why do you think she was so determined? Have you ever clung to a dream even when it seemed illogical? Did your persistence pay off?
- Polio (infantile paralysis) played a major role in
Stardust
. Were you familiar with the fear and hysteria it caused in the first half of the twentieth century? Have you known anyone who had polio? Can you think of any illnesses or threats to society today that people fear? Has public hysteria or media attention caused you to fear things you normally wouldn’t? - The Stardust symbolized open arms for those who needed a haven. How was this an extension of Georgia’s hospitality toward others? If you have the gift of hospitality, how do you exemplify it in your own life?
- Georgia felt responsible for her mother-in-law, Mary Frances. Her obedience in doing the right thing led to a positive change in Mary Frances. Can you think of a time when you did something out of obedience and saw good come from it? If nothing happened, would you still say you’d done the right thing?
- Peter Reese came to the Stardust in need of work and a place to stay. What qualities did Georgia see in him to make her trust him? How do first impressions affect your decisions? What if Georgia had been wrong about Peter’s honesty and work ethic? How might this book have turned out differently?
- Did the setting add to your interest in the story? What settings intrigue you? Small town or city? Southern, international, or seaside?
- The cypress knees symbolize being connected in mysterious ways. Sometimes God brings people into our lives for reasons we don’t understand. Can you think of a time when someone came into your life unexpectedly? Did the person you connected with come for a short season of your life or become a lifelong friend?
- Segregation, poverty, and illiteracy marked the community of Zion. Do you think prejudice and poverty still exist in America today? Has anyone ever shown prejudice against you because of your race or your circumstances?
- In spite of her circumstances, Ludi Harper had strong faith. How did she show this in her everyday life? What effect did this have on the people around her? When you are faced with difficulties, does your faith stand firm or waver?
- Malcolm Overstreet secretly provided medical services to the people of Zion. Do you think he kept it private out of modesty or fear of repercussion from the white community? What are some ways you use your talents to give back to your community?
- When Ludi brought Fiona to the Stardust, no one knew who she was or how disruptive her presence would be to their lives. How might Georgia have reacted if she’d known this was the woman O’Dell left her for? How did Fiona and her children help Georgia embrace O’Dell’s infidelity?
- When faced with bitter truths, Georgia seemed to have a forgiving heart. How did this mesh with the rest of her personality? Why is it harder for some people to forgive than others? Have you ever had to forgive someone for a great injustice? How does faith play a role in seeking and bestowing forgiveness?
- Cora had a passion for the March of Dimes since her mother died of polio. Georgia took in Fiona’s children because she knew the feeling of abandonment. Do your passions in life spring from personal experience? What passions would you sacrifice or die for?
More Heartfelt Fiction from Carla Stewart:
Broken Wings
Chasing Lilacs
Available from FaithWords wherever books are sold.
“Carla Stewart writes with incredible heart and warmth. Her stories manage to challenge and comfort me all the while keeping me glued to the page. She’s an amazing talent.”
—Gina Holmes, bestselling author of
Crossing Oceans
and
Dry as Rain
“With beautiful imagery that engages all the senses, Carla Stewart swept me right into the world of the bayou in the 1950s. Her latest novel,
Stardust
, is told with heart and skill and obvious love for her characters. A gripping storyline that is inspiring and unforgettable.”
—Julie L. Cannon, bestselling author of
I’ll Be Home for Christmas,
2010, and
Twang,
coming September 2012
“Carla Stewart is a talented writer who has proven that again with
Stardust.
I was hooked from the first sentence and am anxious to share this engaging story with our She Reads readers.”
—Marybeth Whalen, founder and codirector of She Reads (
www.shereads.org
), the fiction division of Proverbs 31 Ministries, and author of
She Makes It Look Easy
and
The Mailbox
“A reverence for the past and a keen eye for interesting characters make
Stardust
as bright and magical as a twinkling neon sign on a dark, lonely two-lane. You’ll love the journey as much as the final destination. Another winner from an author with a uniquely beautiful talent!”
—Lisa Wingate, national bestselling and award-winning author of
Dandelion Summer
and
Blue Moon Bay
“Carla Stewart is one of the best at slicing out a piece of Americana and serving it to the reader in a delicious story.
Stardust
is a smooth, inviting, well told story that will stick with you long after you read the last line and close the book. A worthy read.”
—Rachel Hauck, award-winning author of
Dining with Joy
“Carla Stewart writes from the heart about a hard subject. As a polio survivor, I understand the fear and worry that the polio epidemics of the twentieth century evoked. Carla transcends that fear with compassion and achingly beautiful prose.
Stardust
is a winner.”
—Linda S. Clare, author of
The Fence My Father Built
Praise for Broken Wings
“Stewart skillfully entertains and engages the reader with each character’s private pain and survival skills.”
—
Romantic Times
, 4 stars
“Carla Stewart writes powerful, beautiful, emotionally evocative stories that touch my heart.
Broken Wings
is no exception. I couldn’t put it down.”
—Susan May Warren, award-winning bestselling author of
Nightingale
“I smiled through my tears as I read
Broken Wings
. Those of us who have been abused can cheer for Brooke, who stands up and fights with what she has: friendship and the love of God. Keep writing, Carla. We need the voice of hope.”
—Shelley Adina, author of the All About Us series
“A relevant story that explores the beauty of friendship as well as the heartache of abuse. Carla Stewart is an engaging storyteller.”
—Susan Meissner, author of
The Shape of Mercy
“With apt descriptions and artful prose, Stewart delves into the vibrant, jazzy 1940s, at the same time creating a true-to-life present. Moving between the two time periods, readers discover what everlasting love is, and how strong a woman must be to recognize it.”
—Christina Berry, award-winning author of
The Familiar Stranger
Praise for Chasing Lilacs
“Stewart writes about powerful and basic emotions with a restraint that suggests depth and authenticity; the relationship between Sammie and her mother Rita, the engine that drives the plot, is beautifully and delicately rendered. Coming-of-age stories are a fiction staple, but well-done ones much rarer. This emotionally acute novel is one of the rare ones.”
—
Publishers Weekly
, starred review
“This first-person narrative contains resolute characters and vivid descriptions of a small Texas community in the 1950s. If her debut is any indication, Stewart has a promising future.”
—
Romantic Times
, 4½ stars
“A warm, compelling tale with characters who will stay with you for quite a while… Those who lived during the 1950s will have delightful flashbacks, and those who didn’t will get a true glimpse into that era. All will identify with Sammie and the friends and family who deeply influence her search for the truth about her family—and herself.”
—
BookPage
“Carla Stewart’s book,
Chasing Lilacs
, was a delightful read. The perfect book for a snowy afternoon. It’ll warm your heart.”
—Jodi Thomas,
New York Times
bestselling author
“Endearing characters, twists that propel the story ever forward, and soul-searching questions combine to create a heart-tugging tale of self-reflection and inward growth. Carla Stewart’s
Chasing Lilacs
carried me away to 1950s small-town Texas… and I wanted to stay. I highly recommend this insightful, mesmerizing coming-of-age tale.”
—Kim Vogel Sawyer, bestselling author of
My Heart Remembers
“Guilt and redemption are at the soul of this heartwarming tale of a little girl’s searching for her mother’s love. Carla takes us back to a simpler time and a simpler place with wit, wisdom, and insight. God bless her.”
—Charles W. Sasser, author of
God in the Foxhole
and
Arctic Homestead
Contents
More Heartfelt Fiction from Carla Stewart: