1. It is easy to see Lisa's maturity grow as the book gains momentum. You can almost feel it in the writing. Watching her come of age as she did, did you find yourself envying her the adventure? Or pitying her the dire circumstances?

2. Lisa clearly thrives on this primitive landscape. At first bewildered by her situation, she rose to the occasion as few would or could. Did you see her courage come gradually, or did you feel there was a definite turning point? If so, what was it?

3. During the first few months when her dreams are shattered and she realized she had no bed, no food, and barely a husband, why didn't she run away? Was her loyalty to her husband, or her mother?

4. On the hacienda, "losing face" was considered criminal among la gente -- their pride was of paramount importance. Lisa seems to arrive on the hacienda with some measure of her own pride. How does she exercise it, and, in this regard, do you think she had more in common with la gente than anyone would have suspected?

5. Lisa's relationship with her mother would probably be described as healthy. What role does her mother play, voluntarily or not, in her daughters' extraordinary circumstance?

6. The plumbing, transportation, medical supplies, standard of living -- all of these things took the reader a step back in time. What things did Lisa choose to cling to from her past. What did she connect with to get her through?

7. When the stranger (p.315) addresses her with the informal "thou" used only for animals, Lisa was deeply offended. What did this illustrate about her self-image?

8. We hear very little of her father. Is this an omission of importance?

9. Except for the somewhat passionate remembrance of fruit Lisa shares with the local vet, she never recollects missing things European. The people, the dress, the weather, the food, the landscape ... all were very different and surely would have been cause for home sickness. Again, what do you make of these omissions?

10. Lisa's pregnancy, the death of Capino, her decision to start dispensing medicine ... all of these things contributed to the trust between her and la gente that she needed to survive. What or who else contributes?