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When life spins out of control, standing up for yourself isn’t easy.
Marilee Carson Cooper, daughter of a good Southern family, had expectations. But now they are dashed. After her husband leaves her for a young man when she is pregnant with their second child, she pins her career hopes on being appointed Chair of Clinical Law.
The Chair goes to Dwight Hurley, a hometown boy who once broke her heart. The Dean makes clear that Dwight was awarded the endowment because he’s written a soon to be published textbook. Even worse, Marilee is in danger of losing the career she loves if she doesn’t produce a law review article before the end of the semester, when she’s on maternity leave. She has started drafts of a dozen papers for law journals but her difficulties finishing them provide wonderful comic moments.
As Marilee tries to come to grips with her long-buried feelings for Dwight and her suspicion that he hasn’t written a book at all, the troubled clients of the legal clinic are presenting Marilee and her student lawyers with grave issues. One of them—an unwed teen mom—is accused of child abuse, while another client’s DNA tests cast doubt on the parentage of her child.
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1. In Things Are Going to Slide is Marilee fair to Dwight? Is she a reliable narrator? Does she forgive him for betraying her? What kind of future do you see for Marilee and Dwight?
2. Marilee invades Dwight’s privacy to try to find out if he’s written a book, looking at his personal e-mail and writing colleagues who might know more. Did you approve or disapprove of that behavior? Is it ever justified to look at a colleague’s e-mail? A lover’s? Your child’s? Under what circumstances?
3. Was Marilee subject to sexism when she was passed over for the job? Does it make a difference that the person who was responsible was another woman? Would she have fared better if she weren’t a working mom? A pregnant working mom? How common is gender disparity today in the workplace?
4. When Marilee learns that Ellie’s inability to hop on one foot may be significant, she feels like a “criminal mom.” Do mothers feel responsible for everything that is wrong with their children? Do fathers? If so, to the same degree?
5. Discuss betrayal as it manifests itself across a wide range of connections – between spouses, parents and children, lovers and colleagues – in Things Are Going to Slide.
6. In the midst of her own personal dilemmas, Marilee must fight for the innocence of a teenage mother accused of killing her own child. Is Marilee the best lawyer for the job? Does society owe young, poverty stricken mothers support? Do the other individuals represented by the law clinic deserve legal help and societal support? What would have happened had Dwight not been available to take on Cindy’s representation?
7. Several different mothers are featured in the novel (Marilee, Cindy, and Ms. Garcia). What are the similarities and differences in these mothers and their approaches to their role as mothers?
8. What role does the South play in the novel? Do you think the problems Marilee has are unique to the South?
9. How would you describe Dede and Marilee’s relationship? Does Marilee rely on Dede more than she relies on her mother? How much does Marilee need Dede to help her figure out what she really feels, whom she really loves?
10. Is the relationship between Marilee and her ex, Rick, typical? Why isn’t there more acrimony?
11. What is the significance of the title, Things are Going to Slide?
Reviews
“An extraordinarily talented Southern writer, Rangeley Wallace has delivered in Things Are Going to Slide a thoughtfully told story of betrayal, redemption, and family.”
— Winston Groom
“A single woman’s fight, not only for herself but also for others.”
— Book-shelf Shelf
“This really is a smart, sometimes funny, sometimes emotional book.”
— Julie’s Chick Lit Book Blog
“Things Are Going to Slide by Rangeley Wallace is a book for women, but it’s different from regular, old “chick lit” in so many great ways.”
— Lost To Books Blog
“This book is a lot of fun. Read it or else. From the first page to the last the plot never stops rocking. Word.”
— Daniel Wallace
“A powerful novel of chaos and recovery.”
— Midwest Book Review
“This was a quick read (just one day) that was thought-provoking and entertaining all at the same time.”
— Me, My Books and I
“This is a legal drama and a romance novel and I found it quite fast paced, there’s always something going on and I read it really quickly. I pictured it a bit like the US TV show LA Law!!”
— Bookboodle
“A must read!”
— Miss Bookworm
“Wallace has produced a fascinating tale [with] spirited characters and [a] captivating plot.”
— Bookpleasures.com, Blog
Rangeley Wallace … has created an optimistic, hard-working and tenacious heroine who is certain to win out in the end.
— Best Chick Lit Blog
I absolutely loved Marilee’s character. She’s such a strong, smart, and driven woman and it’s done without being defensive or any of the other quirks you sometimes see with characters of the ‘powerhouse woman’ variety
— Among Stories Book Blog
“Rangeley has a very warm and engaging style of writing. I found the book to be a real page turner and could not put it down but read until the early hours of day. I loved the way Rangeley highlighted the importance of trust and having a strong family bond.”
— Cosmochicklitan