As the questions for this post cover the middle section of Deborah Lawrenson's The Lantern, there are some spoilers in the discussion, so please be warned in case you plan on reading it later.
1. The title of this book is The Lantern, and a lantern makes an appearance in both of the stories. In Benedicte’s past, it had a meaning, but what do you think the lantern signifies in her future and in Eve’s story?
Since this is a ghost story, I think that there is some unfinished business from the past, or at least unsettled spirits from the past. Perhaps she (am thinking it must be a she) is trying to make herself known. I'm not sure if the lantern would appear in any case, or whether Eve is simply more open to seeing it since she is also unhappy. That may be a stretch, but I'm not sure there is any other more concrete explanation for it showing up. Who would ever have known it's significance otherwise?
3. What do you think of the combining storyline of Marthe? She connects Bénédicte, Eve, and Rachel. What do you think will be revealed about this connection in the next sections?
Marthe was famous; a woman about whom Rachel obviously took an interest in and wrote about. There had to be some way to connect the stories and probably nothing much would have been known about Bénédicte later despite her being the owner of Les Genévriers. I'm wondering if the bones beneath the pool are Marthe's? And those next to the pool are Rachel's? I know the obvious reason for the connection--all the women have have made Les Genévriers their home--but I think there must be something more, some reason they were all pulled together in one place?
4. Now that things are beginning to move along, what do you think of the characters? Are any standing out for you? Do you particularly like any? Dislike any?
I think I like Bénédicte the most now that I am well into the story. She seems not only the most sympathetic but also the most interesting and the one character I feel I have a solid feel for. I like Eve, and I have an idea why she is drawn to this life with Dom, but I still wonder at her motivations. She questions why she remains with Dom, yet still she stays with him despite his lies and evasions. And Dom remains a total mystery to me. Perhaps he is meant to be an enigma, but there is so little revealed about him I don't know what to make of his actions.
5. What do you think really happened to Marthe and Annette? What do you think the significance of the bones in the pool are to the story? Especially now that it has been revealed that Rachel is also dead.
I think Pierre must be lying, though I am just the tiniest bit uncertain. It's not the first time Marthe would have rejected her sister. Marthe blamed not only Bénédicte but also the rest of the family for her blindness. Perhaps she would have simply left after that awful scene, but Pierre's story is just too pat. He's a violent, angry man who takes what he wants. Would he have let the women go after what he had just done to that girl? But why only one set of bones under the pool? Surely both women would have been buried together had he murdered them. Maybe they're Pierre's bones?! There has to be a connection between Les Genévriers and Rachel--more than she simply lived there and left. Why would Dom act so guilty and refuse to speak about her if she did indeed just die of cancer? Very strange.
6. Do you have any other things you think are significant to talk about? Are there any other predictions to be made for the last two sections of the book?
Since the author has taken for the framework of her story a retelling of Rebecca, do you think Les Genévriers will burn like Manderley did? I only wonder how Eve and Dom can have a happily ever after, though perhaps that is my own prejudices against Dom speaking? I have a feeling I am missing something--some little twist that is going to take me by surprise.
7. Lastly, what do you think of this book overall? Other than for the read-along, why are you reading it? Is it meeting your expectations?
After a few rocky patches I am enjoying it. I love suspenseful stories--all the more so if they have a nice Gothic spin to them. This is definitely of the comfort read variety. As I had this book on my pile to read in any case, I'm glad Carl urged me to pick it up sooner than later. Besides, it's always fun to read in a group and see different perspectives on the story. I have a feeling the last eighty or so pages will just zip by.
You can check out Carl's post here, which has links to the thoughts of the rest of the group who are reading along.