Noah's father finally tells his son for the first time the harrowing account of the wreck of Olaf's ore boat, the SS Ragnark, a horrible secret from that night, and the survivor's guilt that has dogged Olaf ever since and caused him to abandon his family. Noah's own struggle to make a life with an absent father finds its real reward in his relationship with his sagacious wife, Natalie, whose complications with infertility issues mark her husband's life in ways he only fully understands as the reconciliation with his father takes shape.

2. How does setting affect these characters, and reflect them?
3. Did Noah make the right decision to go help his father and leave Natalie?
4. Noah is interested in ski jumping and in old maps. How do these metaphors shape the story?
5. Why do you think Olaf turned to Noah for help instead of turning to Solveig? Were his reasons deeper than the obvious?
6. How are these characters now safe from the sea?
7. Olaf presents his son with a special request. Do you think it was too much to ask? Were you surprised with how things played out?
8. Is this book about fathers and fatherhood? Or is it more a book about family?
9. Alyson Hagy, in praising the novel, said it was “All shipwreck and rescue.” Do you agree? If so, how?
10. Some would argue this is a novel of redemption. Discuss.
11. Noah is ambivalent about his own possible fatherhood, given his own childhood. But he recognizes the meaning a child would bring to Natalie's life. How do his wife's fertility problems and efforts complicate his emotions? In what ways does reconciliation with his father deepen his relationship with his wife and allow him to consider a fatherhood determined by who he is as a man and not who he was as a child?

This book is on these lists:

• April 2012 Indie Next List
• March 2012 Indie Next List
• February 2012 Indie Next List