From the Publisher

Nineteen years ago, a famous filmmaker disappeared from Los Angeles, taking his two children, Dorothea and Jimmy, to a desolate corner of New Mexico. There he raised them in complete isolation without television, computer, radio -- not even a newspaper. Now, at twenty-three, Dorothea leaves in search of her missing brother -- and ventures into the outside world for the first time. Her search becomes an odyssey of discovery when Dorothea meets Stephen Spaulding, a cab driver dealing with his own mysterious history. With him as her guide, Dorothea uncovers the truth of her family's past and the terrifying day that changed her father forever. Together, they have a chance to discover that although a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities.

Publishers Weekly

Tucker's outstanding novel (after Shout Down the Moon) is as structurally dextrous as it is emotionally satisfying, boasting a chorus of extraordinary voices and assured parallel plot lines separated by four decades. In the present day, 23-year-old Dorothea has left her overprotective father's secluded 35-acre New Mexico estate, called the Sanctuary, where she and her brother, Jimmy, had been sheltered from current news and all modern-day innovations. Searching for her runaway brother in St. Louis, Dorothea meets a recently widowed doctor-turned-cabbie, who introduces her to the vibrant outside world he's been trying to escape. A parallel tale set in the 1970s follows the budding romance between a successful film director and the waif who becomes his muse, his wife and the object of his obsessive control. The tour de force resolution that ties both stories together is a lyrically poignant reminder of the necessity of hope. An exceptionally empathetic storyteller, Tucker has created a haunting, gripping novel that brims with graceful writing and fragile characters. This should be catnip for book clubs, whether they devour it as a page-turner about parenting and family or discuss its subtle meditations on fate and coincidence, wealth and poverty, freedom and safety, fairy tales and American dreams. 10-city author tour. (May) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

A sheltered, innocent young woman, a kind cab driver, and a former film star are the narrators of Tucker's (The Song Reader) ambitious third novel. The plot involves one Charles O'Brien, a single parent who has raised his children in the "Sanctuary," a desolate New Mexico location devoid of television, computer, radio, or newspapers. When Charles becomes seriously ill, his 23-year-old daughter, Dorothea, must travel to St. Louis to locate her missing older brother and, she hopes, convince him to return home. Her brother, meanwhile, plagued by lifelong violent nightmares, feels compelled to locate their mother's family. Dorothea's odyssey is at the heart of this challenging, compelling, and poignant novel, which is grounded by popular culture details from the Seventies and present day. Readers will find this captivating, fish-out-of-water fairy tale and mystery-suspense-romance difficult to put down. Intriguing themes, including fate and coincidence, love and loss, and tragedy and forgiveness, combine with an unusual, compassionate cast of characters to make this is a good choice for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/06.]-Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Product Details

• ISBN: 0641916809
  
• ISBN-13: 9780641916809
• Format: Paperback, 355pp
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Trade
• Pub. Date: May 2007
• Edition Description: Bargain
• Sales Rank: 17,984

• Reading Group Guide
• Forewords & Introductions
• Read an Excerpt

Reading Group Guide

Introduction

Nineteen years ago, a famous man disappeared from Los Angeles, taking his two children to a rocky, desolate corner of New Mexico, where he raised them in complete isolation in a utopian "Sanctuary." Now, Dorothea, the man's 23-year-old daughter, is leaving this place for the first time in search of her missing brother. Dorothea's search will turn into an odyssey of discovery, leading to the shocking truth about her family's past and the terrifying events of the day that drove her father to flee L.A. in a desperate attempt to protect his children from a dangerous world. But Dorothea's journey will also introduce her to a doctor turned cabdriver who has suffered his own losses. Together, they have a chance to make a discovery of a different kind: that though a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities.

Group Discussion

1. Charles Keenan is described differently by every character in the book: Lucy says he's a "good person," Janice calls him "controlling," Jimmy pegs him as a "liar," and in Dorothea's eyes he can do no wrong. What do you think of Charles? Is he a sympathetic character?

2. What is the "angel moon" and how does it relate to Dorothea's idea that "life is about what you believe as much as what seems to be reality"? At which points in the book are there disparities between an imagined world and the cold hard facts?

3. In all of their joint film projects, Charles casts Lucy in saintly roles such as Joanof Arc and Helena Lott. He makes the case in one interview that Lucy is a good match because, like the character, "Lucy is such a principled person." Do you agree with this sentiment? In what ways do Charles' filmmaking choices reflect his views on women?

4. Dorothea's trip to St. Louis affords her the opportunity to encounter many things for the first time, most of which she approaches with a childlike wonder and fascination. Is this innocence or ignorance, and what do you make of it? What do you perceive as the author's attitude toward pop culture?

5. Discuss your thoughts about Dorothea's relationship with the older and world-weary Stephen. In what ways does it mirror young Lucy's relationship to Charles? In what ways is it different? Discuss Lucy and Charles's marriage. When did it start to deteriorate and why? What could they have done -- if anything? What do you make of Lucy's second marriage?

6. Why do you think Dorothea is so devoted to her father, even after she finds out the truth about the past? How is this similar to or different from Lucy's devotion to Charles?

7. Following the loss of his wife and child, we learn that for Stephen Spaulding, "it was only in his cab, talking to strangers, that he seemed to be able to bring it all to life." Later, Dorothea unveils her story to Stephen, Stephen reveals his secret to Charles, and eventually Charles to Stephen, despite knowing very little about each other. Do you think this compulsion to confess to strangers is a realistic phenomenon? Why is there such comfort in anonymous disclosure?

8. As the title Once Upon a Day suggests, there are several "days" in this story - some tragic, some "charming" as Dorothea would say - that serve as crucial turning points in the lives of the characters. Identify 4-5 of these days and discuss their significance. Why is Once Upon a Day a more appropriate title than Once Upon a Time? Do you agree that the story hinges on these pivotal days or do you think that what occurs in between these days is more interesting?

9. Throughout the entire book, Jimmy strays from Charles, questioning everything from his father's identity, to his past, to Charles' motivations for keeping the children sequestered at the Sanctuary. Why, then, when he discovers Charles' secret shrine to Lucy and declares him "crazy" does Jimmy say he's "never felt closer to him"? Are there any other moments of craziness or insanity in the book? If so, what do you think drives the characters to such extremes?

10. Read aloud the epigram from Don Quixote. Which character can you best imagine speaking these words? Does the same sort of nostalgia for a better time run throughout the book as well? What does the passage say about fate and human existence? Do these lines strike you differently now that you've read the book than when you first encountered them?

Enhance Your Bookclub

1. Once Upon a Day is filled with references to Hollywood blockbusters. Make a list of each member's Top 5 "Must-See" movies and distribute to the group.

2. When she finally encounters it, Dorothea is fascinated by pop culture. Test your knowledge by taking Entertainment Weekly's Great American Pop Culture Quiz. simonsays.com/content/book.cfm'sid=33&pid=511047

3. If you are hosting, make sure to provide a variety of Dorothea and Stephen's favorite snack: pickles!

Forewords & Introductions

Introduction

Nineteen years ago, a famous man disappeared from Los Angeles, taking his two children to a rocky, desolate corner of New Mexico, where he raised them in complete isolation in a utopian "Sanctuary." Now, Dorothea, the man's 23-year-old daughter, is leaving this place for the first time in search of her missing brother. Dorothea's search will turn into an odyssey of discovery, leading to the shocking truth about her family's past and the terrifying events of the day that drove her father to flee L.A. in a desperate attempt to protect his children from a dangerous world. But Dorothea's journey will also introduce her to a doctor turned cabdriver who has suffered his own losses. Together, they have a chance to make a discovery of a different kind: that though a heart can be broken by the tragic events of a day, a day can also bring a new chance at love and a deeper understanding of life's infinite possibilities.

Group Discussion

1. Charles Keenan is described differently by every character in the book: Lucy says he's a "good person," Janice calls him "controlling," Jimmy pegs him as a "liar," and in Dorothea's eyes he can do no wrong. What do you think of Charles? Is he a sympathetic character?

2. What is the "angel moon" and how does it relate to Dorothea's idea that "life is about what you believe as much as what seems to be reality"? At which points in the book are there disparities between an imagined world and the cold hard facts?

3. In all of their joint film projects, Charles casts Lucy in saintly roles such as Joan of Arc and Helena Lott. He makes the case inone interview that Lucy is a good match because, like the character, "Lucy is such a principled person." Do you agree with this sentiment? In what ways do Charles' filmmaking choices reflect his views on women?

4. Dorothea's trip to St. Louis affords her the opportunity to encounter many things for the first time, most of which she approaches with a childlike wonder and fascination. Is this innocence or ignorance, and what do you make of it? What do you perceive as the author's attitude toward pop culture?

5. Discuss your thoughts about Dorothea's relationship with the older and world-weary Stephen. In what ways does it mirror young Lucy's relationship to Charles? In what ways is it different? Discuss Lucy and Charles's marriage. When did it start to deteriorate and why? What could they have done -- if anything? What do you make of Lucy's second marriage?

6. Why do you think Dorothea is so devoted to her father, even after she finds out the truth about the past? How is this similar to or different from Lucy's devotion to Charles?

7. Following the loss of his wife and child, we learn that for Stephen Spaulding, "it was only in his cab, talking to strangers, that he seemed to be able to bring it all to life." Later, Dorothea unveils her story to Stephen, Stephen reveals his secret to Charles, and eventually Charles to Stephen, despite knowing very little about each other. Do you think this compulsion to confess to strangers is a realistic phenomenon? Why is there such comfort in anonymous disclosure?

8. As the title Once Upon a Day suggests, there are several "days" in this story - some tragic, some "charming" as Dorothea would say - that serve as crucial turning points in the lives of the characters. Identify 4-5 of these days and discuss their significance. Why is Once Upon a Day a more appropriate title than Once Upon a Time? Do you agree that the story hinges on these pivotal days or do you think that what occurs in between these days is more interesting?

9. Throughout the entire book, Jimmy strays from Charles, questioning everything from his father's identity, to his past, to Charles' motivations for keeping the children sequestered at the Sanctuary. Why, then, when he discovers Charles' secret shrine to Lucy and declares him "crazy" does Jimmy say he's "never felt closer to him"? Are there any other moments of craziness or insanity in the book? If so, what do you think drives the characters to such extremes?

10. Read aloud the epigram from Don Quixote. Which character can you best imagine speaking these words? Does the same sort of nostalgia for a better time run throughout the book as well? What does the passage say about fate and human existence? Do these lines strike you differently now that you've read the book than when you first encountered them?

Enhance Your Bookclub

1. Once Upon a Day is filled with references to Hollywood blockbusters. Make a list of each member's Top 5 "Must-See" movies and distribute to the group.

2. When she finally encounters it, Dorothea is fascinated by pop culture. Test your knowledge by taking Entertainment Weekly's Great American Pop Culture Quiz. simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=33&pid=511047

3. If you are hosting, make sure to provide a variety of Dorothea and Stephen's favorite snack: pickles!

Read an Excerpt

Once Upon a Day

Atria

Chapter One

Stephen Spaulding was very happy, and you can't say that about most people. He hadn't sought happiness, but he recognized it. This was his gift: to know what he had.

When it was gone, of course he knew that too. He changed from a man who could smile at strangers first thing in the morning to a man who wouldn't look anybody in the eye. He'd lost his family in a freak accident, and the rest he let go of as easily as opening his hand and releasing a string of balloons. Good-bye to the family practice he had just started with two friends from his residency. Good-bye to the Victorian house he and Ellen had gone deeply into debt to buy when she got pregnant during his internship. Good-bye to the cradle and the tricycle and the pink and purple birthday party dress Lizzie never had a chance to wear.

More than a year later, he still hadn't adjusted to the way time itself had been altered. Before there was never enough time, and the list of things he and Ellen had not gotten around to doing was one of many things that still tortured him. The untaken trip to Paris bothered him less than the movies they'd talked about renting. Why hadn't they watched them? Ellen'sentire list could be watched in a weekend. He knew this because he had done it, several times. He watched the movies his wife had wanted him to, and thought about what she would say if she were there. This was back in the early months, when he was trying to give her gifts, as though she could come back if only he worked harder to make her want this life.

After the accident, there was too much time. Each day stretched before him like a flat Kansas highway, the only landmarks the meals he forced himself to choke down, the few chores he performed, and the occasional walks he took, rarely noticing anything or anyone on his path. He finally bought the old green and white Checker cab not because he needed the income -- his compensation from the city would support him forever, especially since he had no desires, nothing he wanted now -- but because he could drive it as little or as much as he liked, sixteen hours a day, more if his insomnia was bad.

He wouldn't have sued, but the city gave him an enormous sum anyway. The newspaper headline called it a "regrettable tragedy." It was a Sunday in late July; the police were chasing a teenager who had stolen a rusted-out '84 Toyota from a neighbor's driveway. The car was worth less than five hundred dollars, but the patrol car that slammed into his family at the intersection had been going over eighty miles an hour. He was driving; Lizzie was in her booster seat in the back, behind Ellen. The teenage thief turned himself in when he heard what had happened. The policeman who was driving took early retirement.

And Stephen, the barely thirty-year-old family practice doc, became a cabbie. What difference did it make? His knowledge of how to heal bodies had done nothing for him anyway. His wife and four-year-old daughter had still died right in front of his eyes.

Now he was learning the quickest way to the airport from any street in St. Louis. How to slide around a bus, and when to change lanes so his customer would feel they were making progress. What times the restaurants and bars closed, and which of his regulars would be likely to drink one too many and need a ride on a Saturday night.

People often mentioned what a safe driver he was. The safest cab driver they'd ever ridden with. He nodded, but he didn't respond. He never drove without the radio playing. Talk show, pop music, news channel, it didn't matter. The radio was his excuse not to talk.

The only time he would answer was when a customer asked about the amusement park tickets. They didn't ask often, even though he'd had the tickets laminated and kept them displayed above the visor, right next to his license. Stephen wasn't surprised. He knew most people aren't interested in their cab drivers.

He wasn't surprised; still, he longed for the question. He longed for another opportunity to tell the whole story of that perfect July day at the amusement park: riding the water slides and the Ferris wheel and the child's roller coaster; eating hot dogs and ice cream -- mint chocolate chip, Ellen's favorite; trying to win a giant stuffed panda bear, and when he couldn't make the ring toss (a setup, he was sure), buying the bear for his daughter anyway.

Every time he told the story, he added a few more details. As the months went by, the story often filled the entire drive; sometimes he would still be talking while his customer was trying to hand him money and get away.

He knew he was going too far, but he couldn't help himself. Back at his apartment whenever he tried to think of that day he drew a blank. It was only in the cab, talking to strangers, that he seemed to be able to bring it all to life: the feel of the sun on the back of his hands and the bright drips of green falling off their cones onto the hot pavement and how awkward and adorable Lizzie looked that night, lugging the giant panda to their car.

He didn't realize how he'd begun to live for these discussions until a rainy morning in April, when they suddenly came to an end.

He'd picked up a girl at the bus station downtown. One of the weirdos, though this one wasn't pierced or tattooed or obviously strung out, but even more bizarre, naturally pale as a made-up Goth, but dressed like a throwback to the fifties: long flared black skirt, fluffy pink sweater, even the white ankle socks and saddle oxford shoes. Her hair was in a thick braid, twisted like some kind of tight crown on top of her head, and she was sitting up so straight she looked uncomfortable, eyes unblinking, small white hands folded carefully in her lap. Stephen had already put her out of his mind when she mentioned the tickets about ten minutes into the ride. But before he could tell her about the slides or the food or even the perfect weather that day, she noticed what no one else had: that the tickets weren't stubs.

"What happened?" she said. "Why didn't you ever use those?"

He flushed with a confusion that quickly turned to anger. It had taken him nearly a year to perfect the story of the amusement park -- for chrissakes, couldn't he have even this? He wasn't asking for all the days and hours and minutes he would have had with Ellen and Lizzie, he was just asking for one more day.

Stephen had been taking his family to the park when their car was broadsided. Lizzie had wanted to go all summer, and that day they had the tickets: they were really, finally going. All he had done in his story was change "were going" to "had gone." A mere verb shift, and yet it changed everything.

And now this strange girl in his cab was forcing him to change it back.

Her voice was entirely innocent. She had no idea what she'd taken from him. But then again, he had no idea what she was about to give.

Copyright ©2006 by Lisa Tucker

Continues...

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Excerpted from Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker Copyright © 2006 by Lisa Tucker. Excerpted by permission.
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