Out of Focus by Margaret Buffie

1. Beginning writers are always told to write about what they know. Look at Margaret Buffie’s biography on her website. What information there tells you she writes about what she knows in the book Out of Focus? http://buffie.netfirms.com/index.html
2. Do you have any experiences you would like to share about a friend or family member with an addiction problem? Please do not use real names.
3. On page 113, John tries to give Bernice a warning about Tony. What advice would you give Bernice about Tony?
4. Celia’s alcoholism affects each of her children in different ways. How is Jojo affected by her mother’s alcoholism? Give examples from the novel.
5. Celia’s alcoholism affects each of her children in different ways. How is Ally affected by his mother’s alcoholism? Give examples from the novel.
6. Celia’s alcoholism affects each of her children in different ways. How is Bernice affected by her mother’s alcoholism? Give examples from the novel.
7. How does Bernice use photography to connect with her life? How does she use it to escape or avoid her world? Give examples from the novel.
8. Discuss how the author uses the idea of photography to link the characters and the story in Out of Focus.
9. Which character in the story are you most interested in and why?
10. Check out the Alateen website. http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/alateen.html. Answer the 20 questions found at Is Alateen for you? as if you are Bernice. Do you think Bernice would be helped by attending Alateen meetings? In what ways?