Expected One

Reading Group Guide The Expected OneBy Kathleen McGowanSummaryWhen journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so complex and dangerous that thousands of people have killed and died for it. Disturbing visions of a woman in red veils haunt her dreams and color her life, driving Maureen to seek the help of experts on everything from religion to folklore to occult societies. Along with her cousin, Father Peter Healy, and a handful of new friends steeped in the history she finds herself inextricably linked to, Maureen travels to France to unravel the secrets of an undiscovered treasure resting somewhere in the rocky wilds of the French Pyrenees. A series of scrolls written in the first century by Mary Magdalene, these startling documents hold the power to redefine the events and characters of the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, the priceless cache can only be uncovered by a special seeker, one who has been chosen for the task by divine providence -- The Expected One. Meanwhile, a renegade and ruthless secret society that has operated throughout Europe and the United States for centuries, The Guild of the Righteous is pathologically obsessed with the treasure. For their own shocking reasons they will stop at nothing to secure the priceless scrolls for themselves -- and eliminate those who oppose them.Discussion Points1. Maureen has her students take a vow to remember: "History is not what happened. History is what was written down." She later discusses the importance of "experiential understanding" when touring the Cathar region of Languedoc, France with Jean-Claude. How do you feel about Maureen's approach to studying the past? What are the benefits and drawbacks to relying on oral traditions for information?2. Maureen's book,Herstory, proposes that, throughout history, male record-keepers and scholars have intentionally slandered women. Identify some of the historically important women mentioned inThe Expected One. Discuss and compare their stories as you first learned them to their stories as retold by characters in the novel.3. Many characters in this novel struggle to reconcile the idea of religion with faith, "Church" with spiritual experience. Describe some of the personal conflicts that these characters encounter, such as Maureen's visions versus her disdain for the Church. What concepts or situations in the novel leave you feeling similarly torn?4. Father Peter Healy explains, "for people of faith the facts simply don't matter. But don't make the common mistake of confusing faith with ignorance." Do you think his opinion has changed by the end of the novel? Do you think that faith and fact can coexist? What are the dangers of holding to faith to the exclusion of fact, and vice versa?5. Why do you think the author chose to interject passages from the Arques Gospel of Mary Magdalene, The Book of Disciples, throughout the novel? Discuss how each cited passage relates to the text it precedes.6. Names are an important factor in genealogy. Identify the characters with names that have significance to the story. For example, Maureen ("Little Mary") and Paschal (which indicates her relation to Mary the Shepherdess and the Expected One prophecy).7. As she pursues the truth about Mary Magdalene and Jesus, Maureen learns much about the politics of the early Christian movement. Discuss the ways in which politics influenced this novel's version of biblical events.8. In this novel, both John the Baptist and Jesus are martyred for different reasons and to different effects. How were the deaths of these two critical figures each beneficial and detrimental to the Christian movement as described in the novel?9. When did you first suspect who the "Messiah" of the Guild of the Righteous was? Were you surprised to learn that followers of JohMcGowan, Kathleen is the author of 'Expected One ', published 2006 under ISBN 9780743299428 and ISBN 0743299426.