River of Mercy (50 page)

—BJ H
OFF

1. Gideon Kanagy has moved away from the Plain community and is living as an
Englischer
in Riverhaven while he works for Jeremiah Gant in his carpentry shop. Why, then, isn't he under the Amish
Bann
for not living according to the
Ordnung,
their unwritten rules for proper living?

2. Do you understand the reason for the
Bann
—the shunning—employed by the Amish? Can you explain its purpose and express whether you agree with it or not?

3. How do you see Samuel Beiler? What kind of a person is he? What do you believe is responsible for his tightening of the rules in the Riverhaven Amish community? What do you think accounts for his conflicted treatment of Rachel?

4. Is the embarrassment or humiliation Rachel feels after Samuel Beiler confronts her about her “wrong behavior” with Gant justified? Do you believe she actually did sin with him, or did Beiler's accusations influence her opinion of herself and her love for Gant?

5. The story told in
River of Mercy
takes place almost entirely in the winter. Did this affect your mood as you read the book? How?

6. When did you first begin to think you knew the identity of the troublemaker(s) in the story—early in the book, later, near the end, or not at all? Was your assumption right? Did anything in particular trigger your realization?

7. Dr. David Sebastian advised his stepson, Gideon Kanagy, that things have a way of working out if we follow God's leading:

“The most important thing for you, son—for any of us—is to heed God's will, though His will may not always seem like a possibility. Sometimes it won't even seem to make sense. But as I said, things have a way of working out in the long run if we let the Lord put us where He wants us. You just follow where He leads and let Him take care of any obstacles.”

Do you believe that? Can you recall a time in your life when you've followed that advice? How did it work out for you?

8. Is there a particular character in
River of Mercy
to whom you especially relate? How and why?

9. Did anything in
River of Mercy
change your preconceived ideas about God's mercy or enlighten your understanding of it? Explain.

10. Did Rachel surprise you with the way she handled the approach of a likely intruder in the dead of night? How would you handle a situation like this?

11. How do you think the arrival of Silas, and Asa's eventual recognition of the boy, might ultimately change both their lives?

12. If you've read all three books in the Riverhaven Years series, who was your favorite character? Who was your favorite in
River of Mercy
? Why?

BJ Hoff's
bestselling historical novels continue to cross the boundaries of religion, language, and culture to capture a worldwide reading audience. Her books include such popular titles as
Song of Erin
and
American Anthem
and bestselling series such as The Mountain Song Legacy and The Emerald Ballad. Her stories, although set in the past, are always relevant to the present. Whether her characters move about in Ireland or America, settle in small country towns or metropolitan areas, or reside in Amish settlements or in coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.

BJ and her husband make their home in Ohio.

Visit BJ Hoff's webpage at
www.bjhoff.com

 

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