BKMT READING GUIDES



 
Inspiring,
Beautiful,
Insightful

2 reviews

The Secret of Clouds
by Alyson Richman

Published: 2019-02-19
Kindle Edition : 384 pages
7 members reading this now
2 clubs reading this now
0 members have read this book
Recommended to book clubs by 2 of 2 members
From the #1 international bestselling author of The Lost Wife and The Velvet Hours comes an emotionally charged story about a mother's love, a teacher's promise, and a child's heart.....
 
Katya, a rising ballerina, and Sasha, a graduate student, are young and in love when an unexpected ...
No other editions available.
Add to Club Selections
Add to Possible Club Selections
Add to My Personal Queue
Jump to

Introduction

From the #1 international bestselling author of The Lost Wife and The Velvet Hours comes an emotionally charged story about a mother's love, a teacher's promise, and a child's heart.....
 
Katya, a rising ballerina, and Sasha, a graduate student, are young and in love when an unexpected tragedy befalls their native Kiev. Years later, after the couple has safely emigrated to America the consequences of this incident cause their son, Yuri, to be born with a rare health condition that isolates him from other children. Maggie, a passionate and dedicated teacher agrees to tutor Yuri at his home, even though she is haunted by her own painful childhood memories. As the two forge a deep and soulful connection, Yuri's boundless curiosity and unique wisdom inspires Maggie to make difficult changes in her own life.  And she'll never realize just how strong Yuri has made her — until she needs that strength the most......
 
A novel that will make readers examine what it means to live life with a full heart.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Prologue


April 26, 1986


Kiev, Ukraine


She walks the cobblestone streets, her lithe body moving quickly. Most days, she is wrapped in layers of thin sweaters and a scarf roped loosely around her neck. But today it is unseasonably warm, the sun radiating against the pale blue sky. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

1. Maggie and Yuri’s teacher-student relationship is the heart of The Secret of Clouds. Do you have a teacher who left a lasting impression on you or made a permanent impact on your life?

2. How do music and dance serve as different forms of language for the characters in The Secret of Clouds? Think about how music is embraced in Maggie’s home and how it ultimately draws her to Daniel. How is it different from Katya’s family’s attitude toward her dancing? Does the fact that Katya is a ballet dancer influence her romance with Sasha?

3. How do the Topper and Krasny households communicate through food? What are the cultural differences? What are the similarities? Does food play a role in your family’s traditions and holidays?

4. Maggie’s mother tells her, “We can’t be so afraid of experiencing pain that it interferes with the things we love.” What are the different painful obstacles that the characters face, and how do they overcome them?

5. There are several references to butterflies in the novel. Why do certain characters identify with butterflies? Sasha also describes the butterfly effect to Katya early on in their relationship. Can you think of an example in your life where one individual meeting changed your destiny?

6. Do you believe Yuri’s heart defect was caused by the Chernobyl accident or was just a random case of bad luck? Does the author imply there were certain things that increased Katya’s risk of having a child with a birth defect?

7. How do Katya and Sasha approach Yuri’s diagnosis differently? How do their experiences as parents differ? How does each of them deal with the strain and fear of having a sick child?

8. How does Sasha’s faith transform over time? How is the conflict between science and faith explored in the novel? How do Sasha and Katya’s beliefs differ on this issue?

9. What role do sports play in The Secret of Clouds, and how do they unite the various characters in the novel? What makes baseball such an attractive sport for Sasha and Yuri?

10. Both Florence and Katya have family stories that they don’t share readily with others, yet these histories impact how they are perceived by others. Did you have greater sympathy for these characters once you learned about their past experiences? Do you know people in your life whom you saw differently and more empathetically once you learned something they don’t often reveal to others?

11. Do you think there are individuals who are destined to become teachers because of certain qualities that they possess? What traits do you think contribute to making some people more suitable than others for the profession? Is teaching a calling? Have you been drawn to a certain profession? What made you a perfect fit for that job?

Suggested by Members

What information do governments withhold from people is the us really different from Soviet Union
The bonds between teacher and student - who was your favorite teacher and why
Do past memories hold you back from future experiences
by cindyjaxn (see profile) 07/11/19

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Member Reviews

Overall rating:
 
 
by Diane C. (see profile) 07/12/19

I thought it was very well written and held my interest although the story was predictable. I enjoyed the authorâ??s use of descriptions and I hope to read more of her books.

 
  "Beautiful and Inspiring"by Pat S. (see profile) 07/11/19

A beautiful story about a teacher and homebound student and how their relationship changed both of their lives. The story brought up much discussion at our book club. Thank you for gifting our book club... (read more)

 
  "The Secret of Clouds"by Cynthia J. (see profile) 07/11/19

This was an inspiring story of a bond between a teacher and pupil but also dealt with the fragility of life and choosing a life with happiness. It produced much discussion, 8 thumbs up!

 
  "Teacher / Student teach lessons about life"by Rose M. (see profile) 07/08/19

Thanks to Penguin Random House and Book Movement for sending copies of The Secret of Clouds for our book club to enjoy. I am providing this review honestly.
I really enjoyed this sweet sto
... (read more)

Rate this book
MEMBER LOGIN
Remember me
BECOME A MEMBER it's free

Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.

SEARCH OUR READING GUIDES Search
Search




FEATURED EVENTS
PAST AUTHOR CHATS
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more
Please wait...