Courtesy Henry Holt and Company
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Ordinary Heroes Discussion Guide
By Lindsay Mergens, November 2005, May 2007
Join a dialogue about family secrets and other themes raised in Scott Turow's Ordinary Heroes
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About the Book
A World War II veteran, David Dubin had always refused to talk about his war experiences and been an enigma to his son, Stewart. Upon David's death at age 88, Stewart uncovers his father's wartime letters and is shocked to discover that during the war his father was court-martialed, imprisoned, and then exonerated under unexplained circumstances. Motivated by his reporter's instincts—but more by his desire to finally understand the father he feels he never really knew—Stewart pieces together David's baffling past.
Aided by notes from a memoir David left, Stewart, 55, learns how his father, then a JAG lawyer, was ordered to apprehend a supposed traitor in the Army's ranks, a man whose loyalty might not be as compromised as David's superior officers believed. As David searches for this man, Robert Martin, he enlists the help of Martin's cohort, Gita, a mysterious operative with the French Resistance, and quickly falls under her spell. From the fiery skies and unforgiving terrain of Belgium and Luxembourg to the frontlines of the Battle of the Bulge, David encounters unimaginable horror and tests the limits of his own bravery, all the while questioning the meaning of life—and love. As Stewart traces his father's past, he not only uncovers the truth about his family's history but also realizes a great deal about himself.
Ordinary Heroes puts forward many intriguing themes as David's truths are revealed and Stewart struggles to accept what he's found out.
Discuss With Your Book Club
Family secrets figure in almost everyone's life. Consider these questions, and share your thoughts and experiences with your book club.
Has your father—or another relative—ever discussed his wartime experiences with you? If so, did it help you understand him better?
Do you believe, as Stewart does, that all parents keep secrets from their children? Have you? Can you understand why parents are sometimes secretive?
What have you learned about your parents' lives that you didn't know when you were growing up? Do you think it's had an impact on your life?
Additional Questions for Book Clubs
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