QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  1. At the beginning of the novel, Annie is angry, unhappy and bitter. Did you sympathize with her or feel she needed to change her attitude?
  2. Polly and Annie become friends despite being very unlike in background and personality. Do you think friendship can blossom despite differences? Or do people need to have things in common to maintain a friendship?
  3. Did you find Polly’s “inspirational” quotes useful or annoying? Why? Were there specific quotes you appreciated or disliked most?
  4. Annie has been through some terrible things—divorce, bereavement, a parent with dementia. Do you think that, as Polly says, simple actions like gratitude lists can help people cope with such hardships?
  5. Have you ever tried a challenge like the 100 Happy Days? What was your experience? Would you try it again?
  6. Who was your favorite supporting character in the novel? Why?
  7. Which was your favorite day in the challenge?
  8. Some of the happy day challenges, such as having a piece of cake or going for a walk, seem minor. Do you think small things like these can truly make a person happy?
  9. Is Annie right to quit her job or is this decision reckless?
  10. Polly creates a video message to be played at her funeral and tries to organize a memorial while she’s still alive, so that in some sense, she gets to attend. What do you think of this approach?
  11. Dr. Max says that Polly’s happiness and outgoing personality are caused by her brain tumor. To what degree do you think this statement is true?
  12. In what ways do you think Polly and Annie ultimately helped each other?