Once Upon a River

Describe the three different claims that are placed on The Child. What are the similarities across all three claims? What are the differences?

Describe the importance of family in the novel. What types of family structures are shown?

Although the author puts her own spin on many of the mythological elements of the novel, she draws from established mythos. What magical elements does she explore in Once Upon a River? Where are some real-world sources for these elements?

What purpose do the drinkers, or regulars, at the Swan inn serve? How do they enable the events of the story?

What are the different kinds of stories presented in Once Upon a River? What are the different audiences? How does a story change to fit its audience?

How is science contrasted with folklore in this novel? What kind of argument could the author be making about one mentality or the other?

Choose at least three of the women in the novel and describe how they have been shaped by their histories. How do they interact with the world? How do their experiences shape these interactions?

What purposes do animals serve in Once Upon a River? How do the animals reflect the thoughts or feelings of the characters?