The Blessings of the Animals
Chapter 1, Reviews &
Reading Guide
“Wonderfully poignant characters and a deeply satisfying exploration of love in its many incarnations, some of them a bit furrier than others, make this novel Katrina Kittle’s most insightful yet. Don’t miss it!”
—Lesley Kagen, New York Times bestselling author of Tomorrow River and Whistling in the Dark
“A marvelous page-turner. A story of an unexpected heartbreak and the unexpected blessings that result. Loveable, fallible characters (both two-legged and four) will have you cheering their explorations of love in all its many forms and life in all its messy glory. I didn’t want to put this book down!”
—Ellen Baker, author of Keeping the House
“…an entertaining novel about forgiveness and the four-footed….”
—The Washington Post
“…an unpretentious, well-written, emotionally authentic story”
—The Boston Globe
“…Kittle wades through heartache and tragedy yet manages to find elegance and charm in her latest novel. … a long-view of the nature of marriage and relationships.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
“With subtle yet shimmering insight, Kittle explores the resilience of human nature and the indelible role animals play in healing shattered emotions.”
—Booklist
“Animal lovers be warned: you will not be able to put this one down.”
—Naples Daily News
“There’s something about a woman rising from the ashes of her life that gets a reader’s attention. Throw in a bunch of crazy animals and a crazier family and readers can become fans for life.”
—Grand Rapids Press
Blessings Reviews
Blessings Reading Guide
1. The last line of Chapter Two has Cami entering the house (where Bobby will leave her), remembering the time she tried to touch a tornado. She thinks, "How could I have been so certain I wouldn't be hurt?" How does the tornado story parallel marriage?
2. How does the Bobby chapter affect your reading of the story? Without his point of view, what would be different for you? What does he think that you wish he’d tell Cami? What things do both Bobby and Cami misinterpret in each others’ actions?
3. Discuss the importance of the scarred Passier saddle in light of what Cami learns about her parents' marriage.
4. Why is it so important for Cami to ask Bobby if he wants to work on the marriage? Would you have done the same thing? Or is this another example of her not knowing when to quit?
5. Why is it important for Cami to reclaim "Bobby's" kitchen? How does Muriel help with this decision?
6. What are the blessings of the animals? What gift does each of the three main animals (Moonshot, Gerald, and Muriel) give to Cami? How do these rescue animals end up rescuing her? What final gift or lesson does Luna bring at the end?
7. In what ways do the Davids epitomize the marriage vows they are not allowed to make?
8. Discuss Cami's reaction to Vijay's proposal. Are her concerns justified? Is she making a mistake?
9. Cami comes to believe that Bobby gave her a gift the day he walked out. Do you agree or disagree?
10. Cami and Vijay love each other but Vijay says, “And that's not enough.” Is he right? Is this a true assessment when considering forming a life together?
11. After the disastrous wedding shower for Olive, what “advice” would you offer to newlyweds?
12. Is Cami right to think “What a risk love was.” How do you feel about her final thoughts, “We were all ‘every one of us’ rushing out into the hail. Dancing out into the hail every single day”? What does she mean?