The Fall of a Sparrow

Wuthering Bites Book Club Review at a Glance

What We Said

The members of our group who had read the author's other book, The Sixteen Pleasures, were extremely disappointed by The Fall of a Sparrow. It is a rich and complex story, which tends to ramble quite a bit. It's all over the place and probably too ambitious, with so many sub-plots it was difficult to grasp what the book was all about. The main character seems shallow and self-centered. Parts of the book were engrossing and entertaining. It just didn't seem to pack a walloping emotional punch, based, as it was, on the themes of loss, particularly that of a parent losing a child, and the subsequent disintigration of a family.
-Sue

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Robert Hellenga received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and studied at Queen's University in Belfast and the University of North Carolina before complete a Ph.D. in English Literature at Princeton University. He is a professor at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

• The Sixteen Pleasures
• The Fall of a Sparrow

From the Publisher

The Fall of a Sparrow examines the reawakening of life after a young woman has tragically died. At the heart of the novel is Alan Woodhull ("Woody"), a classics professor at a small midwestern college, whose beloved oldest daughter, Cookie, is killed during a terrorist bombing in Italy. Seven years after the bombing, Woody finds himself standing in the cemetery where Cookie is buried, convinced that life has taught him all the lessons he has to learn. His wife has left him, and his two remaining daughters have grown up and moved away. Yet a new life, which Woody both longs for and resists, begins with his decision to attend the trial of the terrorists responsible for his daughter's death. And as Woody gradually emerges from his sorrow, returning to Italy and the scene of the tragedy, he also awakens to new love.

Reading Group Guide

These questions and discussion topics are offered to enhance your discussion of this book.

• One of the most significant changes in Woody is his transformation from a routine-oriented man who avoids change into a political activist whose primary purpose is to bring about change. Compare this transformation with that of Hannah, who exchanges her life as a liberated woman for that of a cloistered nun with virtually no freedom. Discuss how two people who appear to have similar goals and values can choose such radically different paths after being touched by tragedy.
• In addition to the world of Homer and other ancient writers, Woody deeply connects with the emotional lyrics found in blues music. What do these two markedly different art forms have in common with one another? Discuss why Woody is so fascinated with each one. Can the blues offer him something that the classics cannot, and vice versa?
• At virtually every important moment in his life (i.e. making love to Turi for the first time, meeting Angela Strappafelci in jail), Woody discusses ancient history and classic literature. Is he looking for history to shed light on these events, to somehow guide him? Is he attempting to divert attention away from the situation at hand? Does he discuss academia because it is one of the few subjects he feels secure about?
• Woody quotes one of his favorite blues songs: "All my life I been a traveling man, living alone, d4oing the best I can." (39) Does this accurately describe Woody's life? Discuss scenes (such as the Halloween party) where Woody seems to be alone even while in a crowd?
• In one way, Woody's renewed interest in playing the guitar symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter in his life. But one of the main reasons that this music gives him comfort is because itreminds him of the past. Is Woody truly moving on? Is he attempting to make new memories with these songs? Discuss other events that mark new phases in Woody's life.
• Why does Woody admit only to Turi that he is afraid of the bats in his attic? Explore the possible meanings of the scene where Turi helps Woody hold the bat in his hands before letting it fly away. Why does Sara choose bats as the subject of her very first independent exhibit at the science museum when she has been afraid of them all her life? Is Sara beginning to conquer her own fears?
• Is Woody selfish or hypocritical for having air affair with Turi? Did the affair begin simply because Turi was so aggressive, or was there a more tangible connection between Woody's affairs with a mother and a daughter? How do you feel about the fact that everyone (Hannah, Allison, Alireza) forgives Woody for having affairs with both women? Does he deserve their forgiveness? Does the fact that he believes he "needed" these affairs excuse his behavior?
• When discussing the play Oedipus with Allison, Woody is fascinated with the notion of the "terror of coincidence." Explore the role of coincidence and fate in The Fall of a Sparrow (i.e. Cookie sitting in the train station the moment it is bombed; Woody finding Hannah's letter on an Iranian street). Is Woody truly "terrorized" by coincidence, the fact that everything in life can't be planned or reasoned out?
• Early in the novel, Woody reflects on Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilych. He points out how Ivan only transcends his average existence when he faces death. How does this notion mirror the events of Woody's life? Does Woody consider his life himself -- average? Does he identify with Ivan? In the end, has the death of Cookie empowered him to change his life in positive ways?
• Why do food and cooking play such large roles in the life of the Woodhull family? Is Woody trying to use food to "nourish" his soul because he is not being fulfilled in other ways? Discuss the role of food as a character in itself.
• One way Woody communicates with his daughters is by discussing classic literature and history. Does this keep them at a distance? Are his discussions with his daughters real communication or more like academic lectures? Is Woody more comfortable with his students than with Sara and Ludi?
• Discuss the point-of-view changes in The Fall of a Sparrow. Which point of view did you find more revealing? Why is Sara's narrative first-person, while the sections devoted to Woody are not? Did you ever wish to hear a first-person narrative from someone else, perhaps from Cookie or Hannah?
• Woody's moment of truth occurs when he forgives Angela Strappafelci -- but only after he passes up the opportunity to harm her. This scene is mirrored by the one where Alireza holds Woody's life in his hands (in the helicopter) but ultimately forgives him for having affairs with both his wife and daughter. Discuss the emotional growth of these two men Do they have more in common than they realize. Is Alireza a better man than Woody, or just a different kind of man?
• As a native, Gabriella can teach Woody new things about Italy, and Woody is now willing to play the part of the student rather than the teacher. Discuss the meaning of this momentous step. Does Woody's acceptance of this new role reflect his feelings for Gabriella, or is he simply ready to let someone else lead the way? Is Woody more emotionally connected to Gabriella than he was to Turi and/or Hannah?
• Were the arguments between Hannah and Woody regarding Cookie's tombstone really a joint denial of their daughter's death? Discuss the meaning and suitability of the final inscription.
• Do you agree with Sara's assessment at the end of the novel that it is actually she, not Woody, who has failed to truly deal with Cookie's death? Or did Sara and Woody simply deal with the tragedy differently? Do you think Sara really understands the path that Woody chooses in the end, or does she simply accept it?
• The title of this book comes from a line in Shakespeare's Hamlet: "There is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow." What does this line mean in relation to the novel? Is Woody himself a Hamlet-esque figure, one whose indecisiveness and passivity routinely dictate the course of his life? Is this a character flaw he changes by the end of the novel?
• Both Woody and Sara compare life to reading a book; Sara compares Cookie's death to a book with its ending ripped out. Do Woody and Sara want life to be like a book because they want to have their endings written for them?
• One of Robert Hellenga's strengths as a writer is his ability to wholly transport readers to a distant land and culture. Did reading The Fall of a Sparrow make you want to travel to Italy, to explore its ruins, music, food, and landmarks?

Inspired by this novel, we've come up with a few of our favorite Italian dishes. More menus and recipes

Linguine with Lemon Cream Sauce - pasta specialty from Sicily
Roast Lemon Chicken - Italian spices help flavor this excellent dish