Run, by Ann Patchett

Characters

Bernard Doyle – former Mayor of Boston Bernadette Sullivan – deceased wife Sullivan – oldest son – had been in Africa – driving car in which girlfriend was killed Tip – Black - adopted – Ichthyologist Teddy – Black - adopted – memorized famous speeches, interested in Catholic faith   Father John Sullivan   Tennessee Alice Moser – previously Beverly – took friend’s name and raised her daughter Kenya Moser Tennessee Alice Moser – deceased

 

For discussion:

NOTE:  All page numbers are from 2008 Harper Perennial paperback.

 

1. Discuss Sullivan:

* How did adopting the two boys impact his life both positively and negatively?

* How did his life change because of the death of his mother?

* Why did Doyle encourage him to lie about accident when he was driving and Natalie was killed?

* How did the accident and lie impact everyone’s life?

* His connection with Tennessee – when he was visiting her before her surgery he could not stop telling her his story. Why?

 

2. What did you think about Tennessee and Kenya following the Doyles’ lives?  Was it sweet or creepy?

 

3. How would things have been different if the second Tennessee had lived?

How would things have been different if Bernadette had lived?

 

4. What was the connection between Tip, Teddy and Kenya?  Why did they have similar features?  How were they related?

 

5. Did the way Tennessee raise Kenya give you any insights into being a minority?  For example, her mother taught Kenya to always be vigilant (page 80).  Is that trait you encouraged in your children?

 

6. Kenya was driven to run – it was impossible for her not to run.  Have you ever felt that driven to do something?  Could you understand her feelings?

 

7. How did the various family members connect with Kenya? 

 

8. How did his belief in God change for Father Sullivan?  When he was younger he “believed in a carefully ordered universe: action and reaction.  But now he could no longer picture a God who kept track of such minutiae or who would think to punish anyone for it.”  (page 126)  Also he felt, at the end of his life in the home, that “God seemed more abundant to him in the Regina Cleri home than any place he had been before.”  (page 131)

 

9. What was happening when Nena DeMatteo and Helen Cain where healed after visiting Father Sullivan?  Did he have a special insight when he was visiting Tennessee?

 

10. Both Tip and Teddy felt they had to punish themselves for what happened by going back to school – Teddy for law and Tip in medicine.  (page 284) Why did they feel so responsible?   Should Doyle have understood their feelings and intervened?

 

11. How did you feel about Tip abandoning medicine after he received his degree and returning to ichthyology?

 

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