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Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions

The Sullivan Saga: Memories of an Overseas Childhood

1. Large families --- the pros and the cons of living (and raising) a large family.

2. What are the similarities and differences between an American overseas lifestyle and a homegrown lifestyle?

3. Was the lifestyle Ms. Sullivan describes overseas more or less appealing after reading the memoir?

4. How does the death of her father affect the way you feel about the dangers and risks associated with living in third world countries?

5. One of the issues of living overseas is being able to balance the needs of the various family members --- the career opportunities for the parents (or lack of opportunities), the stability and safety of the family, the importance of community.

6. What is “rootedness”? How is a child given roots? Can a child with a mobile childhood be raised “with roots”? How? Or, why not?

7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a mobile lifestyle?

8. The structure of the memoir was by movement from country to country and from year to year. How else could it have been structured?

The Sullivan Saga: Memories of an Overseas Childhood
by M. H. Sullivan

  • Publication Date: May 13, 2010
  • Paperback: 302 pages
  • Publisher: Romagnoli Publications
  • ISBN-10: 1891486136
  • ISBN-13: 9781891486135