February 2026 Book Discussion - A girl called Samson by Amy Harmon

Grace.

Grace.

Sugar Cookie : GingerScraps Praise Team {Lead}
Hi everyone! welcome to February's Book Club Discussion thread!!
This thread will remain open even after we finish reading the current book, so everyone who wants to add any opinions can do so at her leisure.
1. To avoid spoilers, remember to click on the three dots

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2. choose "inline spoiler," and start typing your text. To me it shows up like a mask icon, but as well can show like an eye with a line through it.


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As all of you know, in this thread we can discuss anything about the current book. Please feel free to share your thoughts while you are reading or whenever you want, or as you progress in your reading, it's up to you, this thread is yours, so express all what you think about the book and reading. You can write parts of the text you're reading, and that you think are important to understand the plot, comment on what you think of all what you have reading so far, whether the author is easy or difficult to understand and follow?, how the plot and characters develop to your mind?, and if there's a quote you'd like to share, please do it.
If you've already finished reading the book, these are some questions that can help to reflect on the reading (you don't have to answer them, unless you want it):
  1. who were your favorite characters?
  2. did the characters feel relatable and realistic?
  3. what moments surprise you? what do you predict would happen?
  4. did you anticipate the role John Patterson would play in the book?
  5. why was Deborah's portrayal of a man believable?
  6. what were some of your favorite quotes of the book?
  7. what were your favorite scenes or moments?
  8. what were your less favorite scenes or moments?
  9. did you learn anything new about the time period?
  10. how has your perspective been changed or broadened by this story?
  11. how did Deborah's relationship with Elizabeth help her to develop a relationship with John?
  12. what were the most pivotal points in the story, in your opinion?
  13. where there any particular quotes that stood out to you? which ones and why?
  14. why did you think of the overall structure of the novel?
  15. were you engaged immediately?
  16. did you race to the end or was this a slow-burn story for you?
  17. what did you think about the time-line and point of view?
  18. how do you feel reading the story?
  19. which stories conveyed the story?
  20. what scene resonated most with you personally in either a positive or negative way?
  21. would you read this book again? yes or no, and why?
  22. would you like to see a film or tv adaptation based on this book?
  23. what surprise you the most about the book?
  24. were there any scenes that make you cry?
  25. were there any scenes that make you laugh?
Once again welcome, I hope several of you will choose to join us!
 
I just finished the book but I am not sharing any spoilers or answering the questions yet. I might copy and save the questions to answer and share towards the end of the month.
I will share that I like how the author in her books always shares after the end of the story how she obtains her background to the story. She bases in most of her books characters on real life characters from history. Like the Unknown Beloved has Eliot Ness and Al Capone mentioned in the story. Then in Where the Wind Blows has Michael Collins of the Ireland Revolution mentioned.
 
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I can't wait to read your comment dear Anne-Marie. I love the way Amy writes and develops the stories. I'll start to read this book today, wishing you a wonderful month @A-M
 
I started reading the book, and so far I like that it's easy to understand and follow. Reverend Sylvannus seems like a nice person, and I feel like he sees Deborah as a daughter. The Thomas seem like a nice family, even the Deacon, and I wonder, why didn't they adopt her? I know they had ten sons, and Mrs. Thomas clearly likes Deborah, so I wonder if it would have been better to adopt her than to employ her as a servant, although from what I'm reading, they treated her like a daughter. I like Jerry a lot, and I like the relationship he's developed with Deborah. I honestly don't like Deborah's mother, not because she was forced to leave her children, but because I see no reason why she would write a letter to her daughter telling her that a woman drowned out of despair, especially since that woman wasn't a direct relative of Deborah's. I think Deborah's mother was an insensitive woman. I may be wrong, but she didn't wrote to her daughter like a mother who misses and loves her. I like Elizabeth, as well as her uncle Sylvannus. What I like about the reading is that one can perceive the atmosphere of social tension prior to the War of Independence.
 
Just for Grace....
Spoiler!
 
@A-M that's true, dear Anne-Marie, we are all different, and we express love differently, you're right about that. Although I worry that Deborah might feel resentment towards her mother in the future, even though they are both victims of circumstance, I don't think a mother would want to separate from her children because she lacks the means to support them. It's a sad situation. I started reading the book today, and I've only gotten a few chapters in. Perhaps what I meant was that I disliked the way Deborah's mother wrote that letter to her. It didn't seem like a letter a mother would write to her daughter, but as you say, the plot will unfold and reveal the reason for the letter, and the pieces of the puzzle will fall into place. Thank you for your comment my dear, I'll take it into account, so much appreciate it.
 
Today I was able to continue with a few more pages. I wasn't surprised that Nat was in love with Deborah, and I wish he hadn't gone to war. I like Phineas too, although he has a competitive nature, I think he's a sensitive person. I was worried that he was going to war too. I think that of all the brothers, Nat, David, Phineas, Benjamin, and Jerry are the ones who should least go to any war. From what I've read and formed an idea of their characters, I think they are sensitive and idealistic men. When Nathaniel, Benjamin, and Phineas went to war, and Nat's promise to Deborah that he would return soon made Phineas say he might not come back. I feel that Phineas loves Deborah, but his aggressive nature means that when he feels jealous, he hurts those he loves, and even hurts himself. I could be wrong, but his temper is like a ticking time bomb, and I don't think it was the best thing for him to enlist. In fact, he's the one I'm most worried about, especially after he rejoined the army after his service is over. I like Elizabeth and John, and I feel that the relationship they develop with Deborah is so important and meaningful to her. I liked the conversation Deborah had with the reverend, I always felt that he loved her like a true daughter, and I was saddened by his passing. I will continue reading what Deborah wrote to Elizabeth and hope to read a few more pages.
 
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I've read through Chapter 5.

Spoiler!
 
I read few pages more I was also surprised by Nath's death; I thought his character would last longer in the story. It saddened me that the Thomas lost several of their children in battle, but what saddened me even more was that Deborah turned 18 and her mother didn't appear, or that she didn't consider returning to her mother, I wonder if she will ever see her biological mother again, and what that encounter will be like?; from what I've read so far, I understand that she feels Mrs. Thomas is a maternal figure, even though she doesn't see Deacon Thomas as paternal figure, rather, for her the Reverend was a true father. I'm glad she has Elizabeth, who has been like a sister to her. I'm happy that she finally went to school, and now she's a teacher, with Jerry as her student.
 
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Today I had some free time (I'm watching the Winter Olympics), and I made progress in my reading. .It's getting more exciting and sadder with each chapter. I felt sorry for Deborah when she finally visited her mother. I think she imagined her mother wanted to see her, not that she had arranged a marriage with someone Deborah clearly had nothing in common with. I think that after that encounter, the mother-daughter relationship was irrevocably broken. I was very sorry for Elizabeth's death, and I was surprised that Deborah, being so intelligent, tried to enlist in the army in the village where she had practically grown up. If Mrs. Sprout hadn't recognized her, someone else would have. And as for her going into the tavern where she knitted every day, I didn't understand it. I was annoyed by what the Deacon said to Deborah about her abilities, but I understand his point of view given the time period in which the story takes place. It was also not very smart to make contact with her father :( I feel that Deborah is intelligent but impulsive, and that leads her to make many mistakes, I'm interested to see how unfolds the story from this moment with Deborah as a soldier.
 
I just finished the book; and wow, that was great!

I was surprised at some of the choices that she made, but the author did a wonderful job making that era come alive. I was expecting the ending to be different, specifically her marriage to the general, as the records show she married someone else, not John Paterson, but it worked well for the story. The relationships between the characters were believable, the tragedies were heartbreaking, and the character growth was fun. Her background and perspective played a major part of her decisions, and it was a delight to read. I might look into more Revolutionary War era books to celebrate America's 250th anniversary of independence this summer.
 
Alyssa @photocrazy thank you so much for your comment, I didn't read the spoiler, since I haven't finished reading it yet, but I also think it's one of the best books I've read so far. The story is captivating me. I even searched to find if there was a movie based on this novel, but apparently there isn't, and I would really love to see a movie based on this book, I hope someone decides to make it someday.
 
I finished reading it and from the moment Deborah enlisted in the army, everything happened so quickly, that the story caught me! practically I read the rest of the book in just two days. I must confess, the reading became addictive. I liked how Deborah's character interacted with John's, and how they shared moments of great tension, complicity, and survival. I appreciated that the author added an epilogue at the end explaining where she got the elements for her novel and the true story. Without a doubt, it's a book I will reread, and one I would love to see adapted into a film or series
 
ok, I am intrigued. I don't have extra reading time, but the book is available in my audio reader, and as I will be on the road for four hours tomorrow, I will give it a listen while traveling. I am excited to download it and get into it.
 
MooreBlessings said:
ok, I am intrigued. I don't have extra reading time, but the book is available in my audio reader, and as I will be on the road for four hours tomorrow, I will give it a listen while traveling. I am excited to download it and get into it.
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Safe travels dear Lori, and happy listening, I'm sure you'll enjoy the book, personally I loved it!
 
Being intrigued, I started last night. I am home safely and have just finished chapter 19. It is so good... I never knew we had a "book club!" I am so glad I found it!
 
Y'all know that I usually read fairly quickly, but this month has been very busy for me. I was able to read two chapters during my lunch break. I just finished Chapter 18.
Spoiler!
 
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I have read 19 chapters. Wow! This author knows how to pull you into the story.

I agree with lizziej's comment. I was hoping DS/RS would get through the whole war without being found out. Now to see how her relationship with JP works out as she continues to do her duties as his aide.
 
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@lizziej and @pbhill chapter 18 is one of the most exciting, not to mention when JP and DS/RS are injured. I was also puzzled by JP hugging her.
 
Just 20 pages to go!! I hope to finish it tonight; if not, I will finish it during lunch tomorrow. I can't wait to see how it ends!
 
I finished the book last night.
Spoiler!
 
Wow @lizziej I'm impressed with your review, thank YOU so much! I completely agree with you. I would also love to see this book adapted into a movie, it's a great book, and I really enjoyed it. I'm not very familiar with The States' history, so I learned some new things. Thanks again, dear Liz, and we'll read each other in the next book :) you have a wonderful weekend! :)
 
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