As they drive, Shelby thinks of her mother’s last day on earth. Shelby crawled into her hospital bed, and curled up beside her so she could thank her for everything. The nights they looked at stars, the trip to Chincoteague, the way she spoke to the nurse in the locked ward, the times she searched for Shelby when she was missing. Shelby told her that if she had a hundred lifetimes she would want Sue to be her mother in every one, just as for a hundred lifetimes she would want James to be the one who stopped on the road that night. She would want him to say Stay here. She would want him to know her when no one else did.
It’s late when they reach Pennsylvania. After checking in and paying a camping fee, they park in a field. The campground is nearly empty. Neither one of them owns a tent. They’re used to New York City; they didn’t even think of what they might need to camp out. They’ve got pillows and blankets, so they set up a bed in the back of the 4Runner with three of the dogs curled up beside them and Pablo sprawled out in the backseat. The countryside is quiet, but in the middle of the night something wakes Shelby. She leaves James sleeping and takes the dogs out to a field where the tall grass is already turning yellow. They scatter, then race to gather around her when she whistles.
James notices she’s gone. He’s a light sleeper. He gets out of the car and calls for Shelby to look up at the sky. There are so many stars above them she could never count them all. She lies down in the tall grass and listens to the last of the season’s crickets. The landscape is so like the one in her dreams Shelby half expects to see Helene, but all she sees is the moon, which will follow them until they reach California. It’s the farthest Shelby’s ever been from home. She’s looking forward to seeing an ocean she’s never seen before. She trusts she’ll find her way.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to Marysue Rucci, Jonathan Karp, and Carolyn Reidy for their remarkable kindness and support.
Gratitude and love to my beloved agents Amanda Urban and Ron Bernstein.
Thank you to everyone who has made being at Simon & Schuster such a delight, especially Dana Trocker, Anne Pearce, Zachary Knoll, Susan Brown, and Jackie Seow.
Thank you to Miriam Feuerle and everyone at Lyceum Agency.
Many thanks to Madison Wolters for tech, word, and research savvy.
To Andrew and Lisa Hoffman, gratitude always.
Endless gratitude to Kate Painter for invaluable help on all fronts, literary and human.
To Pamela Painter, my deepest gratitude for her invaluable friendship and literary expertise.
Thank you to my friends and family who have offered so much love and support, especially to Mindy Givon, Jill Karp, Gail -Roberts, Tal Givon, Sue Standing, Susan Laskowski, Alexandra Marshall, -Allyssa McCabe, Eric Karlberg, Gregory Schmidt, Lucy Fisher, -Charlie Cuneo, Megan Marshall, Jessamyn Cuneo, Janet Prenksy, Nina Rosenberg, Deb Newmyer, Dr. Marilyn Antokoletz-Hoffman, Laura Zigman, Ann Leary, Sue Miller, Jodi Picoult, Nancy Freed, Shellie Klurfeld, Karina Van Berkum, Luanne Rice, Barbara Kohler, Jacquie Duva-Pearson, Lisa Menschel, Elaine Markson, Gary Johnson, Erica DelVecchio, and Ashley and Harriet Hoffman.
To Jacob and Tessa Martin, love and gratitude for all you do.
And a huge thank-you to Ross Hoffman and Dorothy Crawford for giving me a home where I could finish this book.
Thank you to all of my old friends from Long Island.
Thank you to the editors of the literary magazines where some sections of Faithful were originally published.
Thank you, Leonard Cohen.
And thank you to the many bookstores that have given so much to me both as a reader and a writer, with special gratitude to the bookstores in Faithful: Book Revue in Huntington, New York, and Strand Book Store in New York City.
To my own Shelby, xo always.
Simon & Schuster Reading Group Guide
Faithful
by Alice Hoffman
This reading group guide for Faithful includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Alice Hoffman. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Introduction
In this profoundly moving novel, bestselling author Alice Hoffman introduces a tale of redemption, survivor’s guilt, and the power of love, family, and fate.
After surviving a traumatic car accident that takes the life of her best friend Helene, Shelby Richmond finds herself wayward, lost, and alone. In the years following Helene’s death, Shelby takes up relationships with less than savory men, turns to drugs as a way to escape, and loses all self-love. But through the angels around her—their faith, hope, and support—Shelby finally discovers her calling and sets forth on a path toward a better life.
Faithful is a novel about the burden of guilt, the power of humanity, and resilience—with a character who will resonate with anyone who has ever lost a loved one or lost their way.
Topics & Questions for Discussion