Life in a Peacock Nest - a New Novel from Dianne Krogh
A new Novel from Dianne Krogh
Life in a Peacock Nest
A powerful boss with a Stage 4 case of greed and ego. People eager to crowd into his orb. But, can anyone survive there?
Scarred from growing up in a small town where the children from a clique of wealthy families were always favored, Alan Dravel begins a vengeful search for his own wealth and power.
He barges into the technology boom of 1980’s corporate America with an idea. Over his head but never in doubt, he unleashes his greed and ego in a self-serving climb to success which turns destructive.
Alan’s quick thinking, he considers it a special kind of genius, keeps him a step ahead of his failures. He shuns contact with the common herd and disregards the opinions of people who wear rubber-soled shoes, but those are the people he turns to when he needs scapegoats.
With a handsome face, a quick mind and a lack of ethical or moral considerations to restrain him, Alan drags a Kansas farm family, a country church and associates of a high-flying corporation together in his widening web of failures – all while being honored as one of the country’s top business leaders.
Those caught in the slipstream of Alan’s wild ride to power struggle to hang on for the rewards they believe association with Alan can provide. Power and ego prevail as Alan orchestrates the most unimaginable twists and turns to entangle his victims and save himself. Those who survive find justice in the last place they think to look.
Life in a Peacock Nest is a captivating novel that probes the strength and weakness of the human spirit. It is a story about the nature of people, with characters so memorable you won’t want to let them go.
"I loved this book! It runs you through so many twists and turns and emotional highs and lows that you feel you are living it. Fascinating characters are so real they drag you into their tragedies. In the end you will feel empowered." Moab Mike
Crimes of Greed and Ego are Rarely Punished
Book Club Section
Discussion Questions for Life in a Peacock Nest
1. Do you believe the tragic situations in this book were caused by a capitalistic system of business or were they the result of flaws in human nature?
2. Was Alan Dravel the only imperfect character or did his victims also exhibit character flaws which made them vulnerable? If so, what were they? Which people who suffered from their association with Alan were completely blameless?
3. At the conclusion of the book, Alan Dravel has plans for the future. Do you think his skill set will enable him to succeed in his future endeavor? Why do you think the author wanted readers to envision Alan moving in that direction?
4. Do you think the Dravel marriage was a successful one in the minds of both Lucy and Alan? Or was one of them a victim?
5. Typically, the protagonist in a novel is the main character and is a good guy, often a hero. In this case the protagonist is the evil person. Why do you think the author presented the story that way?
6. What do you think was Alan’s biggest flaw?
7. Typically, the protagonist in a novel undergoes a change or realization which alters the course of events. Did Alan undergo any change? Which character do you think had a transformation that led to the outcome of the book?
8. One of our first readers felt empowered by this book. What do you think the reader meant by that?