Reading Guide 1
On Divorce:
Holly is devastated over the failure of
her 'storybook marriage'. In what way
has her upbringing shaped her outlook
on what a good, happy marriage is
supposed to be?
"Di-vorce. Such a big concept for what
amounts to a little word." What are your
thoughts on this statement? Why can some
people go the distance? What makes a
relationship last? Is it trust, respect, sexual
compatibility? Something else?
Holly states, "Nothing lasts forever. Know
when to say when!" Do you agree?
On Mother/Daughter Relationships:
What are some of the incidents Holly
recalls from her childhood which have led
her to the assumption she has always been
a disappointment to her mother? What
effect has this had on her own attitude
towards her mother?
Holly feels guilty about her relationship
with her mother. How do you relate to this
in terms of your own relationship with your
mother/parent? What makes Mother/
Daughter relationships so complicated? Do
you feel like you really know your mother,
why or why not?
How does the relationship between Holly
and her mother change in the end? Or will
it really change?
The "Good Girl" Syndrome.
Do you believe it
truly exists, why or why
not? Did you ever get
lectured about being a good
girl? What "good girl rules"
(i.e. "Don't kiss on the 1st
date?", "Don't get a
reputation") were you
aware of as an adolescent?
On New Beginnings:
Holly says, "Life isn't a series of reruns
and instant replays. There are no second
chances, not the way we'd like." Since one
can't go back, how does one move forward?
Have you ever had to begin again? Start
Over? Change jobs? Move to a new city?
Make new friends? What was the hardest
part and how did you handle it? What is your
opinion on how Holly chooses to handle it?
On Relationships:
Holly has a bad experience with Paul at
the Italian restaurant, is embarrassed and
leaves. Have you ever had a horrible dating
experience, one in which you couldn't wait
to get home. How did you cope with it?
At the coffee shop, Holly meets a "hunk".
Have you ever felt sexual attraction
'immediately' upon meeting someone? Was
that due to physical appearance or
personality? What is your opinion on the
idea of falling in love at first sight?
How do you feel about the statement there
"has to be more magic somewhere? That
good things can't just be at Disneyland?
Adults need happy stories too?"
How is Holly's concept of relationships
affected by her father's betrayal to her family?
Navigating the Business World:
In what ways does the Good Girl Syndrome
find its way into the business sector?
How did Holly succeed in the corporate
world? In what ways she did she fail?
What are your thoughts on the character
of Olivia Dempsey? What drives her? Do you
know or work with someone who is like Olivia?
Do women have to play hard or dirty to get
ahead or can "nice" girls finish first? Why?
Women & Self Image:
Holly's refuge from the harsh realities of
divorce lies in the comfort of food and her
warm bed. When you've had instances
when life closed in on you, what did you do?
Holly's mom feels that
Jean-Marc and
marriage was the
answer to Holly's
happiness. Do you
believe this is
generational, why or
why not? And what is
one of the most
important lessons Holly
has learned about life
and relationships by the
end of the book?
Katie Robinson, Holly's old high school friend,
questions why Holly married Jean-Marc. Holly
shares she wanted to be special. Katie points
out that a man doesn't make you special;
you're special because you're you! In what
ways have you had to learn this lesson?
Holly says "One shouldn't have to die—
physically or psychologically for love. Love
should be about strength, not weakness.
Empowerment not dependence. Shouldn't it?"
Would a woman this age really think this way?
Or is this Dr. Phil speak?
What does Holly discover about her own
personality in terms of fairy tales and
princesses? How does the 'new' Holly compare
to the old one?
How realistic are Holly's attitudes on life in
terms of modern women today? Does she seem
like a real, living, breathing person to you, why
or why not? How do you relate to Holly?
On Setting:
The author, Jane Porter, has been quoted
as saying she likes to use setting as a
secondary character in her books. How do
you see this in The Frog Prince? In what
ways is her use of setting effective or
evocative in The Frog Prince? If set in another
city, would this story work as well, why or
why not?
How does Holly's depiction of growing up
in a small town affect you? Are her memories
of Visalia realistic or senti-mental? Why are
childhood memories often bittersweet?
How do the author's descriptions of San
Francisco make the city come alive for you?
Have you ever traveled to San Francisco?
If not, would you want to now? If so, what
do you recall as some of your favorite things
about the experience?
Fun Extras:
If a motion picture studio bought the movie
rights for The Frog Prince tomorrow, which
Hollywood star would, in your opinion, be
most suited to play Holly Bishop's character
and why?
Do you believe men would be able to relate
to The Frog Prince, why or why not? Would
they be able to identify with any of the
issues Holly struggles with? In what ways
do men face similar issues about
