The Frog Prince
by Jane Porter
List Price: $12.95
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 0446694495
Publisher: Warner Books
Holly Bishop is the proverbial, small-town good girl. She always follows the rules, thinks of others first, and she never, ever makes mistakes. Until she marries the man she thought was her Prince Charming, who confesses on their honeymoon that he's not sexually attracted to her. Now, 14 months later, Holly's marriage is in the toilet, along with her self-esteem. Determined to start over, she moves to San Francisco, where she must navigate the landmines of dating in the big city. In the shadow of the Golden Gate and amid a population of wacky Bay Area eccentrics, Holly will discover that nice girls don't always finish last. In fact, they sometimes end up with everything they'd ever wanted.
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On Divorce:
Holly is devastated over the failure of her 'storybook marriage'. In what way has her upbringing shaped her outlook on what a good, happy marriage is supposed to be?
"Di-vorce. Such a big concept for what amounts to a little word." What are your thoughts on this statement? Why can some people go the distance? What makes a relationship last? Is it trust, respect, sexual compatibility? Something else? Holly states, "Nothing lasts forever. Know when to say when!" Do you agree?
On Mother/Daughter Relationships:
What are some of the incidents Holly recalls from her childhood which have led her to the assumption she has always been a disappointment to her mother? What effect has this had on her own attitude towards her mother?
Holly feels guilty about her relationship with her mother. How do you relate to this in terms of your own relationship with your mother/parent? What makes Mother/ Daughter relationships so complicated? Do you feel like you really know your mother, why or why not?
How does the relationship between Holly and her mother change in the end? Or will it really change?
The "Good Girl" Syndrome. Do you believe it truly exists, why or why not? Did you ever get lectured about being a good girl? What "good girl rules" (i.e. "Don't kiss on the 1st date?", "Don't get a reputation") were you aware of as an adolescent?
On New Beginnings:
Holly says, "Life isn't a series of reruns and instant replays. There are no second chances, not the way we'd like." Since one can't go back, how does one move forward? Have you ever had to begin again? Start Over? Change jobs? Move to a new city? Make new friends? What was the hardest part and how did you handle it? What is your opinion on how Holly chooses to handle it?
On Relationships:
Holly has a bad experience with Paul at the Italian restaurant, is embarrassed and leaves. Have you ever had a horrible dating experience, one in which you couldn't wait to get home. How did you cope with it? At the coffee shop, Holly meets a "hunk". Have you ever felt sexual attraction 'immediately' upon meeting someone? Was that due to physical appearance or personality? What is your opinion on the idea of falling in love at first sight?
How do you feel about the statement there "has to be more magic somewhere? That good things can't just be at Disneyland? Adults need happy stories too?"
How is Holly's concept of relationships affected by her father's betrayal to her family? Navigating the Business World:
In what ways does the Good Girl Syndrome find its way into the business sector?
How did Holly succeed in the corporate world? In what ways she did she fail?
What are your thoughts on the character of Olivia Dempsey? What drives her? Do you know or work with someone who is like Olivia? Do women have to play hard or dirty to get ahead or can "nice" girls finish first? Why?
Women & Self Image:
Holly's refuge from the harsh realities of divorce lies in the comfort of food and her warm bed. When you've had instances when life closed in on you, what did you do?
Holly's mom feels that Jean-Marc and marriage was the answer to Holly's happiness. Do you believe this is generational, why or why not? And what is one of the most important lessons Holly has learned about life and relationships by the end of the book?
Katie Robinson, Holly's old high school friend, questions why Holly married Jean-Marc. Holly shares she wanted to be special. Katie points out that a man doesn't make you special; you're special because you're you! In what ways have you had to learn this lesson?
Holly says "One shouldn't have to die— physically or psychologically for love. Love should be about strength, not weakness. Empowerment not dependence. Shouldn't it?" Would a woman this age really think this way? Or is this Dr. Phil speak?
What does Holly discover about her own personality in terms of fairy tales and princesses? How does the 'new' Holly compare to the old one?
How realistic are Holly's attitudes on life in terms of modern women today? Does she seem like a real, living, breathing person to you, why or why not? How do you relate to Holly?
On Setting:
The author, Jane Porter, has been quoted as saying she likes to use setting as a secondary character in her books. How do you see this in The Frog Prince? In what ways is her use of setting effective or evocative in The Frog Prince? If set in another city, would this story work as well, why or why not?
How does Holly's depiction of growing up in a small town affect you? Are her memories of Visalia realistic or senti-mental? Why are childhood memories often bittersweet?
How do the author's descriptions of San Francisco make the city come alive for you? Have you ever traveled to San Francisco? If not, would you want to now? If so, what do you recall as some of your favorite things about the experience?
Fun Extras:
If a motion picture studio bought the movie rights for The Frog Prince tomorrow, which Hollywood star would, in your opinion, be most suited to play Holly Bishop's character and why?
Do you believe men would be able to relate to The Frog Prince, why or why not? Would they be able to identify with any of the issues Holly struggles with? In what ways do men face similar issues about
In what way do men face similar issues about their identity and cultural roles?
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"A painfully funny, utterly true story for every woman who has ever wondered what happens after the fairy tale ends. I absolutely loved this book!"
—Susan Wiggs, USA Today bestselling author
"Witty, Smart, Sophisticated. A must read for women entering the dating game and reinventing themselves. I loved this book!"
—Christine Feehan
"Charming, touching and poignant, The Frog Prince is unputdownable. Brava, Jane Porter!"
—Michelle Cunnah, author of Call Waiting, and 32AA
