THE SPACE BETWEEN BEFORE AND AFTER

 Jane Reynolds Page is the author of A Blessed Event, Accidental Happiness, and The Space Between Before and After. She grew up in North Carolina and graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked as an arts publicist in New York City for over a decade and reviewed dance performances for numerous publications before turning full time to fiction in 2001. In addition to North Carolina and New York, she has lived in Boston and Dallas. She moved with her husband and children to the Seattle area in 2002.

“[A] complex, multi-layered book. [Page] seamlessly navigates the book’s intertwining narratives and presents believable characters, at once imperfect and utterly sympathetic. Both the story’s emotional pull and intricate plot twists are sure to seduce new readers.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Page portrays these past and present emotional quagmires with an acutely intuitive eye, drawing the reader into the complicated lives of her sympathetic characters.” —Booklist

“A complex, well-orchestrated family drama.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“A very character-driven novel. . . . Each one of Page’s creations is a rounded and complex person you can sympathize and easily connect with. As a result, [The Space Between Before and After] is a touching, sometimes heart-wrenching, read. —BookBitch.com

Kilian, a young woman living with cystic fibrosis, is a central character in the novel. In what ways does learning of this condition alter Holli’s response to her son’s relationship with Kilian? How would you react if your child became involved with someone living with a serious medical condition?

When she marries Harrison, Hollyanne changes her name to Holli. Why did she make this decision and what is she trying to accomplish? Do you think she succeeds?

What individual motivations draw Raine and Georgia together in friendship? How does the relationship evolve with time? Is Holli right to resent Raine’s attachment to Georgia?

When the facts of Celia’s death are revealed to Holli by Grandma Raine, they absolve Georgia, and to a certain extent Ray, of responsibility for the loss of Celia and the baby. Even in light of this, Holli cannot let go of her anger toward Georgia. What other factors play into Holli’s feelings about her stepmother? Are they valid?

Holli is terribly upset when she learns of Kilian’s pregnancy. She has great concern over the impact a baby would have on Conner’s life, and she admits to herself that she wants there to be some “medical, if not moral” reason for the pregnancy to be terminated. Given this, why is she devastated by the news that Kilian has ended the pregnancy?

Why did Kilian lie about having the abortion? Do you think she did this to protect Conner, or were her reasons self-serving?

How do you feel about Grandma Raine’s “visitations” with her lost daughter and, likewise, Holli’s occasional, strong sense of her mother’s presence? Do you believe that spiritual elements of those we love remain among us?

How responsible is Harrision for the break-up of his marriage to Holli? Did Holli’s childhood baggage drive the demise of their relationship, or were her reactions to Harrison’s behavior in the marriage appropriate?

In spite of the fact that Tina was the result of Ray’s infidelity with Georgia, Holli adores her stepsister and develops a life-long bond with the younger woman. What accounts for Holli’s lack of resentment—and in fact her abiding devotion—towards a sibling who was the product of such painful circumstances?

Significant events in Holli’s family run parallel with flashpoints involving human exploration in space. How do you think the triumphs and tragedies of NASA affect us as a nation? What do they represent in our cultural identity?