Kristin Hannah's Family Matters 4-Book Bundle: Angel Falls, Between Sisters, The Things We Do for Love, Magic Hour (152 page)

A Reader’s Guide

A CONVERSATION WITH
KRISTIN HANNAH

Random House Reader’s Circle:
What inspired you to write this story?

Kristin Hannah:
Magic Hour
is a rare thing for me: a story inspired by actual events—with my spin on them, of course. One day, when I was reading the newspaper, I came across a local story that immediately captivated me. Two young men (in their early teens) had walked out of the deep woods one day and claimed that they’d never seen civilization before. This took place on rugged Vancouver Island. The townspeople immediately flocked around the boys, took them in, and provided them with everything they needed. Well, it turned out that the boys were actually runaways from Southern California and it was all a big hoax. But the seed was planted for me. I know these forests well, you see, and I know that it’s entirely possible to live completely off the grid in that green darkness. One day, I found myself thinking of a little girl with no name …

RHRC:
I read somewhere that
Magic Hour
is one of your favorite books. Why?

KH:
The answer to that is easy: Alice. I have written a lot of characters over the years, but few of them have stayed with me the way that Alice has. I fell in love with everything about her—the way she perceived the world, her remarkable courage and strength, her capacity to love. I did a lot of research on feral and abused children in the creation of Alice, and honestly, the stories of these children were absolutely heartbreaking. I felt a real burden to make Alice true to her circumstances and yet give her the tools for a normal life.

RHRC:
How did you get into the character of a little “wild” girl?

KH:
The key to Alice was a combination of research and insight. I read countless terrible stories of similarly situated children, many of which were tragic. By the conclusion of the research, I really felt that I understood her psyche as much as an outsider can. Once I knew what was “normal,” I began to inhabit Alice, to see the world in the way that she would, to “start over,” in a way. I tended to think of Alice as a visitor from another place, another world. I think that was the key to understanding her. Julia’s job, therefore, was to teach Alice how to be of this world and not detached from it.

RHRC:
This book has so many moving scenes and touching moments that are sure to stay with a reader for a long time. Do you have a favorite moment in this book?

KH:
Actually, I do have a favorite moment in the book. It’s the scene in the back garden at night, when Julia takes Alice outside for the first time. There, Alice howls like a wolf in pain and perfectly imitates the sounds of other animals. I loved this idea that Alice was more a part of the natural world than the civilized one. I remembered the whole Locke/Rousseau debate on the nature of man from my college days, and I called upon that for a great deal of Alice’s creation. I particularly loved the semi-magic of the birds coming to Alice.

RHRC:
Julia and Alice bond with each other over classic books:
The Secret Garden
,
Alice in Wonderland
,
The Velveteen Rabbit
. Were these some of your favorite books as a child? Were you a voracious reader as a child?

KH:
I think most authors were voracious readers as children, and I am no exception.
The Secret Garden
was one of my childhood favorites, but I had never read
The Velveteen Rabbit
until I began
Magic Hour
.

RHRC:
Did George Azelle want Alice back to prove his innocence or because he loved and missed her? What was more important to him?

KH:
I think it’s both, actually. As a nonpracticing lawyer, I am extremely fascinated by the workings of our legal system. One of the things we see repeatedly is how the justice system is both helped and hindered by the aggressive reporting in today’s media. Julia was hounded by the media for not seeing her patient’s intent, while George was convicted in the press for a murder he didn’t commit. Both of their lives were arguably ruined by the media’s scrutiny, and both used Alice as their redemption. I do believe that George loved his daughter and wanted her back—but he wanted the daughter of his memory, not the damaged, frightened girl he found.

RHRC:
How much research went into this book? Did you encounter anything in your research that really struck a chord with you?

KH:
This book was more research-intensive than most of my books, to be honest. In addition to doing the obvious research about feral and abused children, I worked hard to understand the impact of complete isolation and growing up without any of the trappings of civilization. There was also the research into speech and communication in isolated individuals and the potential ramifications of lost speech. Beyond all of that, there were the legal, moral, and ethical questions that concerned both the media coverage and the previous trial.

RHRC:
When you describe Rain Valley you make it sound so beautiful yet you’re also very honest about its drawbacks. Do you think it takes a special kind of person to live and thrive in a place like Rain Valley?

KH:
I do, actually. Rain Valley is a rather stylized version of a real town in the Olympic rain forest—one you might have heard of lately: Forks, Washington. That’s right; it’s the same setting as the Twilight series. I went to school not far from the area and I know it well, and yes, you do need to be a certain kind of individual to thrive in an old-growth forest. It’s staggeringly beautiful, and very, very damp. You learn to love the mist. I was really glad to be able to bring this exquisite corner of the world alive for readers.

RHRC:
Out of all your books, which book was the most difficult to write?

KH:
Hmmm … that’s a toss up. I’m going to have to break the rules and give you two answers. The two most difficult books to write were
Firefly Lane
and
Winter Garden
.
Firefly Lane
was a deeply personal book that touched on some of the most painful issues in my life. In a way, the book was therapeutic to me, but all of that therapy came at a price. It was really difficult sometimes to find the strength to write about my memories of my mother.
Winter Garden
, on the other hand, was difficult to write because the subject matter, while completely unlike anything I have ever experienced, touched me in a profound way. Quite simply, I fell in love with the story in
Winter Garden
and I felt a true pressure to get it right. It is a powerful, heartbreaking story that I didn’t want to screw up.

RHRC:
Do you ever find yourself disliking your characters?

KH:
I never dislike my characters, but I often want to hit them on the head and tell them to snap out of it. Personally, I have a really difficult time with dishonesty and conflict, so I am constantly trying to make my characters act nicer or more honorably.

RHRC:
How do you celebrate completing a book?

KH:
I’ve gotten to the stage in my life where I celebrate all of it—starting a book, writing a book, coming up with an idea, editing a book, finishing a book. As I’ve gotten older, I have begun to realize how important it is to celebrate your choices in life. I really try to not miss an opportunity to kick back and have some fun and simply enjoy how lucky I am to be a professional writer. And when I’m really, really lucky, I get to do that celebrating on the beach in Hawaii. Preferably with a few girlfriends around me.

RHRC:
What’s next for you?

KH:
I can’t say yet what’s next for me. So I guess I’ll tell you a little more about the book I have out now.
Winter Garden
is probably my best book to date. It’s the story of two grown women who discover that their cold, distant mother has a secret past. I find that idea fascinating. What if you found out that your mom had been a super spy? Or had had another family? Or that her whole life story was a lie? I just love the idea that you can live with someone for decades and never really know them.
Winter Garden
is a unique novel for me—part contemporary family drama, part historical novel, part epic love story.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS
FOR DISCUSSION

1. Kristin Hannah writes that “the modern world no longer believed in senseless tragedy.” Why do you think people often need to hold someone accountable when something goes wrong? Is it human nature to play the blame game? Would a guilty verdict have offered the parents of those killed some solace? Do you think it’s ultimately better to seek justice or to simply forgive in a situation like this one?

2. After seeing Amber Zuniga for three years, should Julia have been able to foresee the events that unfolded? What kind of culpability should a psychiatrist have for the crimes of their patients? Is it really possible to predict human behavior?

3. Before the tragedy, Julia was considered to be one of the best psychiatrists in the country. Would you trust Julia with your children after everything that happened?

4. Was Julia’s mom wrong to tell her then thirteen-year-old daughter the secrets of her marriage, especially since she only told her one side of the story? Why do you think her mother told her those things?

5. With all the milestones that Alice reaches under Julia’s care, why is speech the one that everyone is so focused on? Do people value talking over most other abilities?

6. Kristin includes a lot of research in this novel about feral children. How do you think Alice is like a feral child? How is she different?

7. Hannah writes “A name is integral to developing a sense of self.” Why? What does this mean?

8. Why doesn’t Alice think she’s real?

9. Obviously, Alice learns a lot from Julia. But what does Julia learn from Alice? How does meeting Alice change her life?

10. Julia connects with Alice in a way that is completely unprofessional. Do you think Julia is wrong to try to keep Alice away from George? Is she choosing what’s best for Alice or what’s best for herself? George doesn’t have the necessary skills to deal with Alice, perhaps, but he is her father. How important is that in this case?

11. The media plays a huge part in this novel. Press coverage ruins Julia’s life and arguably helps to convict George. Do you think the media goes too far these days? Do you believe that cases are in effect tried in the press? How could we better balance free speech with blind justice? Can you think of any recent case that mirrors George’s trial?

12. How would this story have been different if it had been told from George’s point of view?

13. Did George give up on Alice too easily or was it right for him to realize he couldn’t take care of her in the way she needed to be?

14. Do you think Alice will be able to grow up and live a normal life?