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Why Am I Reading This? Book Summaries PDF Free Download

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Why Am I Reading This? Book Summaries PDF Free Download

Why Am I Reading This? Book Summaries PDF free Download. Think more deeply and widely.

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WhyAmIReadingThis?BookSummaries
Americahasalwaysbeendiverse,anditsdiversityhasbeenasourceofrichnessaswellasasource
offrictionandconflictinourhistory.Weseemanysignsoffragmentation:debatesoverschool
curricula,disputesoverimmigration,ethnicrivalries,andtheincreasinguseofviolencetoresolve
conflicts.Wealsorecognizetheneedtoexaminewhatunitesusasacountry.Inanationcomprised
ofmanydivergentgroupsandbeliefs,weneedtorediscoverthecommonAmericanvaluesthatwe
share.The“OtherAmericas”seriesrevolvesaroundliteraturewhichinvitesreaderstoexaminewho
weareasAmericans.
BookList
1. BlessMeUltima,byRudolfoA.Anaya(Mexican)
2. Ceremony,byLeslieMarmonSilko(NativeAmerican)
3. InvisibleMan,byRalphEllison(African/American)
4. LikeWaterforChocolate,byLauraEsquivel(Mexican)
5. LoveMedicine,byLouiseErdrich(NativeAmerican)
6. MyGrandmotherSmokedCigars,bySabineUlibarri(Hispanic)
7. TheBeanTrees,byBarbaraKingsolver(NativeAmerican)
8. TheJoyLuckClub,byAmyTan(Chinese)
9. TheSecretLifeofBees,bySueMonkKidd
10. TheWomenofBrewsterPlace,byGloriaNaylor(African‐American)
11. TheirEyesWereWatchingGod,byZoraNealeHurston(African‐American)
12. WomanHolleringCreek,bySandraCisneros(Hispanic)
2
BookSummaries
BlessMe,Ultima
BlessMe,Ultima(1972)isanovelofchildhoodmemoryandmagiccreatedbyNewMexicowriter,
RudolfoA.Anaya.Thenovelwaspublishedin1972andwasAnaya’sfirstnovel.Itwaspublishedat
atimewhenMexicanAmericanwritingwasonlybeginningto“comeofage.”Thestorydealswith
anindividualcomingofageinanatmospherethatconveys,withsimplicityandeloquence,Hispanic
experienceinAmerica’ssouthwest.AnayawasborninNewMexicoandisadescendantofthe
Spaniardswhoemigratedfrompresent‐dayMexicoasearlyas1598.TheseearlyNewMexicans
receivedlandgrantsfromthekingofSpainandhavelivedonthelandcontinuouslysincethattime.
Thenoveldealswithasensitiveseven‐year‐old,Antonio,sonofGabrielandMariaMarez.Fromthe
earliestmomentsofhislifetheboyexperiencesthedualisminhisparents’family.Hismother,from
theLunafamily,representsthesoilandthestablefarmers.Hisfather,Marez,isrepresentativeof
thehorsemanwhorangesovermuchterritory.Antonioistornbetweenthesetwoworlds.Ultima,
thevillagefolkhealer,servesasatypeofgodmothertoAntonioandguideshisgrowththroughhis
earlydifficultschoolyearsandisaconstantforceuntiltheendofthenovel.
BlessMe,Ultimaisacalmnovelofpeaceanddesiredharmonyinanancienttradition.
AuthorInformation
RudolfoAnayawasbornOctober30,1937,inPastura,NewMexico.Hismother’slineagecomes
fromfarmers,andhisfatherwasavaquero.RudolfoandhissiblingswereraisedinadevoutCatholic
homewhereSpanishwasspoken.HegraduatedhighschoolinAlbuquerquein1956andlater
droppedoutofbusinessschoolbutreceivedhisdegreeandacceptedateachingpositioninasmall
town.HewasawardedtheprestigiousPremioQuintoSolAwardforthisnovelin1972.Anayahas
writtenseveralnovels,journals,theses,andcommentariesandwasawardedthePENCenterWest
AwardforfictionforhisnovelAlburquerque.
3
DiscussionQuestionsforBlessMe,Ultima
1. Whatimpactdoesthechild‐narratorhaveonthenovel?
2. Antonioisaveryintelligent,sensitiveyoungster.Whyisitnecessarythathebeespeciallysensitive?
3. DiscussthemajorconflictsthatAntoniofeelsinthenovel.Wheredotheycomefrom?Arethey
resolved?Dohisconflictsrelatetoonesthatyouexperiencedwhilegrowingupinyourculture?
4. Thereareseveralregionalmythsincorporatedintothenovel.Whatarethey?Whyaretheyused?
5. Thenovelhasbeencriticizedbysomewhofeelthatcertainpartsaretoocontrived.Discussthe
statement,“ThedreamsequencesofBlessMe,Ultimaaretoological(fordreams)andhence
detractfromthenovel.”
6. Whatpositivehumanisticvaluesdoyouseeinthis“Hispano”culturethatareweakerorabsentin
yourownculture?
7. WhatroledoesUltimaperform?Givespecificexamples.
8. WhatisuniquelyMexican‐AmericanaboutAntonio’schildhood?Howisitsimilartoyours?
9. Thisisafairlyseriousnovel,yettherearevariouselementsofhumorrpesent.Whataretheyand
whatdotheycontributetoAntonio’slifeandtothenovel?
10. Themotifof“lossofinnocence”ispresentinmostnovelsthatdealwithcomingofage.Isitpresent
here?Ifyouagree,howdoesAntoniolosehisyouthfulinnocence?
11. Howdoesthisnovelcontributetoourunderstandingofthehistoryofthisregion,orofthehistory
oftheUnitedStates?
4
WomanHolleringCreek
CisnerosincorporatesninestoriessimilarinstyleandtonetothoseinMangoStreettomakeup
almosthalfofthebook.Thensuddenlythenarratorsofeachstorychangeradicallytoportraya
varietyofadultHispanicwomen.ItappearsthatCisnerosisaverykeenobserveroflifearoundher,
thatshecanperfectlyrecallherownperceptionsasanadolescent(canevenimitatethecuriousand
humorouslanguage),andthatshehasalsoeavesdroppedonhundredsofconversationsamongst
Mexican‐Americanwomenastheysharedtheexpectations,joysandfrustrationsoftheirlives.
Thecurioustitleevokesmanyinterpretations,themostoutstandingofwhichisthedualimageof
theriveror“arroyo,”whichMexicanculturealwaysassociateswiththelegendof“lallorona.”This
rootingofthebookonMexicanfolklore,sayings,traditions,andculturalvalues,isakeytomuchof
itssuccessandappealtoanyreaderwhoknowsthisculture.OnecanalsothinkthattheMexican
womanportrayedonthebook’scoverisfinally“hollering”orshoutingaloudtotheworldabout
femaleviewsonlife.Anumberofwomen’svoicesemergeinthesetales,whichofferreadersa
chancetoreflectonhowoneinheritsandmaintainsMexicanvalues.Someofthesesayings,the
events,andcustomsmakeonecringe;someremindusofforgottentraditions;otherscertainly
evokeastrongchuckle.
AteverypageitisobviousthatCisnerosisamasterofthewrittenword;everyimageandsound
worktogethertocreateamood,toproduceaneffect.Sheisapoetinwhateverliterarygenreshe
works.Shededicatedherbooktobothherparents:tohermother,inEnglish,whomshecredits
withgivingherafiercelanguage;toherfather,inSpanish,shecreditswith“ellenguajedela
ternura”—thelanguageoftenderness.
AuthorInformation
SandraCisneroswasborninChicagoonDecember20,1954,theonlydaughterinafamilythathad
sixsons.SheattendedavarietyofCatholicelementaryschoolsinasmuchasherfamilywasatLoyola
University,wheresheearnedaB.A.inEnglishin1976.Later,attheUniversityofIowaWriters’
Workshop,sheearnedanM.F.A.increativewriting(1978).Cisneros’parentsarebothMexican;her
fathermigratedfromMexicoasayoungman,leavingafamilyofsomeprivilegeandmeans.Her
mother’sfamily,alsoofMexicanstock,buthumblerandworkingclass,hadbeenintheU.S.for
severalgenerations.Cisneros’childhoodwasspentinavarietyofrun‐downHispanicneighborhoods
whichofferedexperiencesthathavefoundtheirwayintoherwriting.
5
DiscussionQuestionsWomanHolleringCreek
1. Theyounggirlinthestory“Eleven”feelsconfusedandoverwhelmed.Whyisshesotroubled
onherbirthday?
2. Howdothe“gringo”touristsendupbeingoutsmartedbyseveralsmallChicanochildrenwho
arejustbeingthemselves?
3. “OneHolyNight”soundslikeaChristmasstory,butitturnsouttoberatheratragicone.Does
thisgirlremindyouofmanyyouthsinourschools?Howdoyounggirlsfallintothisbehavior
pattern?
4. Cleofilasinthestory“WomanHoller…”isarathersillydreamer.Isshetypical?Whatlessons
doesshelearn?
5. What’swrongwithmarryingaMexican,ifthisisyourfamilyheritage?Whywouldamother
adviseherdaughtersthisway?
6. DogirlswhomarryoutsideoftheirLatinoculturedobetterinlife?Howdidtheteacher/artist
inthestory“NeverMarryaMexican”endup?
7. ArethereanygoodstrongmeninthelivesofallthewomencharactersinCisneros’book?
8. WhatcurioustraditionalcustomsdoesCisnerosthrowintoherstories?Didanyofthem
remindyouofyourowncustomsorthoseoftheoldergeneration?
9. Aretheresomeadultfemalecharactersinthesestoriesthatyoufeelgoodabout?Why?Does
ittakeafemalewritertoreallycreatesuchcharacters?
6
InvisibleMan
ThisbookiswidelyacknowledgedasoneofthegreatestAmericannovelsofthesecondhalfofthe
century.Fromthemomentofitspublicationin1952,InvisibleMangeneratedtheimpactofa
culturaltidalwave.HerewasapioneeringworkofAfrican‐Americanfictionthataddressednotonly
thesocial,butthepsychicandmetaphysical,componentsofracism:theinvisibilityofalargeportion
ofthiscountry’spopulaceandtheoriginsofthatinvisibilityinonepeople’swilledblindnessand
another’shabitofself‐concealment.ButEllisonhadcreatedfarmorethanacommentaryonrace.
HehadattemptedtodecipherthecruelandbeautifulparadoxthatisAmerican,acountryfounded
onhighidealsandcold‐bloodedbetrayals.Andhesenthisnaïveheroplungingthroughalmostevery
stratumofthisdividedsociety,fromanivy‐coveredcollegeinthedeepSouthtothestreetsof
Harlem,fromasharecropper’sshacktothefloorofahellishpaintfactory,fromamillionaire’
cocktailpartytoacommunistrally,fromchurchjubileestostreetriots.Alongtheway,Ellison’s
narratorencountersthefullrangeofstrategiesthatAfrican‐Americanshaveusedintheirstruggle
forsurvivalanddignity—aswellasallthescams,alibis,andnakedbrutalitiesthatwhiteshaveused
tokeepthemintheirplace.InInvisibleManEllisoncreatedoneofthoserareworksthatisaworld
untoitself,abookthatilluminatesourowninwaysthatareatoncehilariousanddevastating.
AuthorInformation
RalphEllisonwontheNationalBookAwardforhisfirstnovelInvisibleMan(1952),thestoryofan
alienatedandisolatedblackmanlivinginraciallyrepressiveurbanAmerica.Ellisongrewupin
Oklahomaandaimedforacareerinjazzmusic.InsteadhemovedtoNewYorkCityin1936and
turnedtowriting,encouragedbyotherAfrican‐AmericanwritersincludingLangstonHughesand
RichardWright.DuringWorldWarIIheservedintheMerchantMarinesandpublishedshortstories.
TheremarkablesuccessofInvisibleManmadeEllisonfamousworldwide,andhewassuddenly
consideredoneofAmerica'smostimportantwriters.Reluctanttoassumetheroleofa
representativeforhisrace,Ellisonalwaysmaintainedthatinwritinghisbookhewaspursuingart
morethanhewaspursuingracialjustice.Althoughhelecturedandpublishedcollectionsofessays
(ShadowandActin1964andGoingtotheTerritoryin1986),heworkedforfortyyearsonasecond
novelwithoutfinishingit.Hisliteraryexecutorandfriend,JohnCallahan,puttogetherthe
manuscriptafterEllisondiedandthenovelwaspublishedasJuneteenthin1999.
7
DiscussionQuestionsforInvisibleMan
1. WhatmakesEllison’snarratorinvisible?Whatistherelationshipbetweenhisinvisibilityand
otherpeople’sblindness—bothinvoluntaryandwillful?Istheprotagonist’sinvisibilityduesolelyto
hisskincolor?Isitonlythenovel’swhitecharacterswhorefusetoseehim?
2. Onedrawbackofinvisibilityisthat“youachewiththeneedtoconvinceyourselfthatyoudoexist
intherealworld”(p.4).Howdoesthenarratortrytoprovethatheexists?Doesthissentence
provideacluetothebehaviorofothercharactersinthebook?
3. Whatarethenarrator’sdreamsandgoals?Howarethesevariouslyfulfilledorthwartedinthe
courseofthebook?
4. Isthereadermeanttoidentifywiththenarrator?Tosympathizewithhim?Howdoyouthink
Ellisonhimselfseeshisprotagonist?
5. Whatisthesignificanceofthegrandfather’sdeathbedspeech(p.16)?Whomorwhathashe
betrayed?Whatothercharactersinthisbookresorttothesamestrategyofsmilingbetrayal?
6. Throughoutthenovelthenarratorgivesspeeches,ortriestogivethem,toaudiencesbothblack
andwhite,atvenuesthatrangefromawhite‐only“smoker”tothefuneralofablackstreetvendor
murderedbythepolice.Whatroledoesoratory—and,morebroadly,thespokenword—playin
InvisibleMan?
7. The“battleroyal”sequenceportraysblackmenfightingeachotherfortheentertainmentof
whites.DoesEllisoneverportraysimilarcombatsbetweenblacksandwhites?Towhatend?
8. Throughoutthebookthenarratorencountersanumberofwhitebenefactors,includinga
millionairecollegetrustee,anamiableplayboy,andtheprofessionalagitatorBrotherJack.What
doestheoutcomeoftheserelationshipssuggestaboutthepossibilityoffriendshiporcooperation
betweentheraces?
9. Whatblackmendoestheprotagonistchooseasmentorsorrolemodels?Dotheyprovetobeany
moretrustworthythanhiswhite“benefactors”?Whataboutthosefigureswhoseauthorityand
advicethenarratorrejects—forexample,thevetinTheGoldenDayandtheseparatistRasthe
Exhorter?WhatcharactersinInvisibleMan,ifany,representsourcesofmoralauthorityand
stability?
10. WhatculturaltendenciesorphenomenadoesEllisonholdupforsatireinthisnovel?For
example,whatwerethereal‐lifemodelsfortheFounder,theBrotherhood,andRastheExhorter?
Howdoestheauthorconveythefailuresandshortcomingsofthesepeopleandmovements?
8
LoveMedicine
LoveMedicine,anovelbyLouiseErdrich,wasfirstpublishedin1984andrepublishedinan
expandedversionin1993.AmongthefirstworksbyaNativeAmericanwomantoportraymodern
Indianlife,LoveMedicinedepictsseveralgenerationsofthreefamilieswhosememberssearchfor
anidentitythatfusestheirNativeandEuropeanAmericanroots.Erdrich,whoseancestryincludes
bothOjibwaandGermanAmericans,isamemberoftheTurtleMountaincommunityofthe
ChippewaNation.ShedrewonmemoriesofchildhoodvisitstoNorthDakotareservationsforthe
book.Thenovelinterlacesthenarrativesofthefamilies,wholiveonafictionalizedreservation,
offeringmultipleauthentic"Indian"pointsofviewthroughsharplyindividualcharacters.
AcademiccriticshavepraisedLoveMedicineforitslyricalprose,complexnonlinearnarrative,Native
andEuropeantropes,andthemesincludingbothopposingheritagesandculturalhybridity.Itwon
theNationalBookCriticsCircleAwardin1984.SomeNativeAmericanwriters,however,have
assertedthatErdrich'snovelshavebecomethedominantrepresentationofNativelife,ratherthan
onefacetofadiverseculture.SomeTurtleMountainreadershaveobjectedtoErdrich'sstylistic
flourishesandimpoverished,despairingcharacters.Nonetheless,LoveMedicinehasbeena
groundbreakingtext,generatingwiderappreciationforworksrepresentingNativesas
contemporaryAmericansratherthanromanticizednoblesavages.
AuthorInformation
LouiseErdrichisoneofAmerica’smostcelebratedNativeAmericanauthors.Bornin1954,shegrew
upinNorthDakota,whereherparentswereteachersattheBureauofIndianaffairs.However,
whiletheauthorismostcloselyidentifiedasaNativeAmerican,Erdrichisactuallyofmixedrace:
herfatherisGerman,andhermotherisOjibwaandFrench.Herwritingoftenreflectsthestruggleto
claimadistinctidentityinhermulticulturalworld.Frequently,Erdrich’snovelsdealwiththecyclical
natureoftime,animportantconcepttoNativeAmericans.Hercharactersoftenincludea
“trickster,”amischievoustroublemakerwhomakesappearancesinthefolktalesofold.Beforeher
solosuccess,Erdrichcollaboratedwithherhusbandonchildren’sbooks.Someofherbest‐known
novelsincludeLoveMedicine,TheBeetQueen,andTheAntelopeWife.
9
DiscussionQuestionsforLoveMedicine
1. LoveMedicinedoesnothaveonecentralprotagonist.ItcouldbearguedthatMarieKashpaw
andLuluLamartine,asmatriarchsoftheirrespectivefamilies,sharetheroleof“main
character.”Thetwowomenarebroughtcloserthroughtheirdecades‐longfightoverNector
Kashpaw.Isoneofthesewomenmoresympathetictothereaderthantheother?Whyorwhy
not?
2. NectorandEliKashpawarebrothersandmembersoftheeldestgenerationinthenovel.Nector
isaneducatedfamilyman,whileEliisquieterandmorereclusive.Inwhatwaysarethebrothers
alike?Inwhatotherwaysdotheydiffer?
3. Whatimportanteventsaretoldandretoldfrommorethanonecharacter’spointofview?How
dotheseretellingsshapethereader’sunderstandingoftheevents?
4. JuneKashpawappearsasacharacterinthenovelonlyinitsopeningpages,buttheother
charactersrememberherandspeakofherfrequently.WhyisJuneKashpawsoimportantto
MarieKashpaw?WhydoesLipshaMorrisseycareaboutJune?
5. Asayounggirl,MarieKashpawisterrorizedbySisterLeopoldaintheSacredHeartConvent.
WhydoesMariedecidetovisitLeopoldaattheconventsomanyyearslater,takingherdaughter
Zeldawithher?
6. Thisnovelissteepedwithdeathandloss,yettherearealsocomicmomentsthroughout.How
dotheseeventsrelievetensionwithinthenovel?
7. HowdoesNativeAmericancultureclashwithmainstreamAmericanculturethroughoutLove
Medicine?Describesomeoftherecurringconflictsinthenovel,andhowthecharactersreactto
orretreatfromthem.
8. IsLuluLamartineagoodperson?Howandwhydohervaluesdifferfromtheothercharactersin
thenovel?Issheasympatheticcharacter?Whyorwhynot?
9. LipshaMorrisseyandLymanLamartine,althoughcloseinage,areoppositesinmanyways.How
doesthereaderreacttothesetwoverydifferentcharacters?Howdotheyrepresenttheoptions
availabletomodernNativeAmericans?
10. Asanovel‐in‐stories,LoveMedicinedoesnothaveatraditional,linearplot.Doesthenovelhave
aclimax?Doesithavemorethanone?Whyorwhynot?
10
LikeWaterforChocolate
SetinruralMexicoduringtheeraoftheMexicanRevolution,Esquivel’snovelopenswith
instructionsonhowtochoponions.Theseinstructionscomefromthemaincharacter’sgreatniece,
whoproceedstonarratetheentirenovel.Thenovelconstitutes,then,afamilylegendtoldbya
youngerfemalerelative,andfitsintothedevelopingliteratureofmatrilineage,aresultoffeminist
interestintellingthelivesofourforemothers.Thenoveldealswithtraditionandfamily
relationships,personalfulfillmentversusfamilyexpectations,courage,effrontery,adultery,
nurturing,andtheroleofwomeninsocietyandinthefamily.Foodisanimportantsymbolsincethe
originalpurposeoffamily,accordingtosomeanthropologists,wastheprocuringandpreparationof
foodtoinsuresurvival.Thisisanexciting,innovativenovelinitsuseofrecipes,listsofingredients,
anddescriptionsoffoodsmells,householdutensils,andkitchenatmosphere.However,italsodeals
withalife‐longbutforbiddenlovebetweenTita,themaincharacter,andherbrother‐in‐lawPedro.
Thoughthenovelisinnovativeinmanyways,thecharactersembodytraditionalroles.Thereaderis
permittedaglimpseoflifeinanothererainwhichperhapsmotivationandpsychologywere
analyzedless,inwhichpeoplefitthemselvesintopatternsoflifealreadyestablishedfromtime
immemorial.Asenseofchronologicaldepthisacquiredbytheauthor’splacementofthenovelin
theby‐goneeraoftheMexicanRevolution.Esquivel’sworkfitsintoatraditionwellknowninLatin
Americabutusuallynotdealtwithbywomennovelists.
AuthorInformation
LauraEsquivelisaMexicanwriterandauthor.BornonSeptember30,1950,inMexicoCity,Mexico.
Esquivelbeganwritingwhileworkingasakindergartenteacher.Shewroteplaysforherstudents
andthenwentontowritechildren'stelevisionprogramsduringthe1970sand1980s.Herfirst
novel,LikeWaterforChocolate,becameinternationallybelovedandwasmadeintoanaward‐
winningfilm.HerothertitlesincludeTheLawofLoveandBetweentheFires.
EsquiveloftenexplorestherelationshipbetweenmenandwomeninMexicoinherwork.Sheisbest
knownforLikeWaterforChocolate(1990),animaginativeandcompellingcombinationofnoveland
cookbook.IthadbeenreleasedinMexicoayearearlier.Afterthereleaseofthefilmversionin
1992,LikeWaterforChocolatebecameinternationallyknownandloved.Thebookhassoldmore
than4.5millioncopies.
11
DiscussionQuestionsforLikeWaterforChocolate
1. WhattypeofacharacterisPedro?Isheweakorstrong?Canthereaderrespecthisdecisionto
marryRosaurainordertoremainnearTita?
2. WhatpointismadebyRosaura’sflatulence,badbreath,anddigestivetroubleswhichultimately
leadtoherdeath?
3. IsTitaalwaysadmirable?Isitmorallyjustifiableforhertomakelovewithhersister’shusband
justbecauseshewasinlovewithhimfirst?Doesshestrugglewithmoralissues?Issheatrue
heroineineverysenseoftheword?
4. ArethereanyredeemablequalitiesinthecharacterofMamaElena?
5. WhatisthefunctionofsecondarycharacterssuchasDr.Brown,Nacha,andChencha?
6. WhatliterarydevicestiethemainactionofthenoveltothedelaGarzafamily’spastandto
theirfuture?
7. Foodanditspreparationarelinkedwitheveryaspectofthestory.Eachchapterbeginswitha
recipeusedbyTitaforsomefamilyevent.Whatroledoesthisgastronomicelementplayinthe
reader’sexperienceofthenovel?Howdoesitaddtothenovel’sculturalsetting?
8. Howwouldmostcontemporarydaughtersdealwithadespoticmother?Howcanweexplain
Tita’slong‐sufferingsubmissiontoMamaElena?Isitduetoculturalreasons?Psychological?Is
itcomprehensibleinthecontextofthetimes?
9. Dosignificantchangesoccurinanyofthecharactersthatindicatetheirdevelopmentand
maturationthroughoutthenovel?Docharactersmakechoicesthatinfluencethecourseof
theirlives?Ifso,whatarethey?
10. WhatelementsinLikeWaterforChocolatearedistinctlyMexicanorHispanic?Thinkintermsof
action,generalatmosphereor“flavor,”conclusion,familyrelationships,andsoforth.Onthe
otherhand,whatelementsareuniversal?
11. Ifyouhaveseenthefilmversion,compareitwiththenovel.Whichdoyoupreferandwhy?
Wasthenovelwrittenwiththeideainmindthatitwouldsoonbemadeintoamovie?
12. Howdoeseachofthefemalecharactersrelatetomen?ThinkofTitaandPedro,TitaandDr.
Brown,RosauraandPedro,Gertrudisandthemeninherlife,andMamaElena’shidden
relationshiptoJoseTrevinoaswellasherattitudetowardherson‐in‐lawPedro.
13. Doesitdetractfromthenovelthattheinteriorityofthecharactersisnotdiscussed?Isit
preferableforanauthortorevealtheintimate,innerworkingofthehumanmindorsimplyto
relateevents?Thereistreatmentofemotionssuchasloveandoutrage,butdoesitsatisfythe
reader’sdesiretounderstandthecharacters?
14. Overall,whatdoyoulikeanddislikeaboutthisnovel?Howhasitbenefittedyoutoreadit?

12
Ceremony
Tayo,theheroofLeslieMarmonSilko’sgroundbreakingnovelCeremony,isahalf‐bloodLaguna
IndianwhoreturnstohisreservationaftersurvivingtheBataanDeathMarchofWorldWarII.Ashe
strugglestorecoverthepeaceofmindthathisexperienceofwarfarehasstolenfromhim,Tayo
findsthatmemory,identity,andhisrelationswithothersallresemblethecoloredthreadsofhis
grandmother’ssewingbasket.Theelementsofhispersonalityfeelknottedandtangled,andhis
everyattempttorestorethemtoordermerelysnagsandtwiststhemallthemore.Tayo’sproblems,
however,extendfarbeyondthefrustrationsandalienationheencountersintryingtoreadjustto
peacetime.HavingriskedhislifeforanAmericathatfundamentallydisownshim,Tayomust
confrontdifficultandpainfulquestionsaboutthesocietyhehasbeenfightingfor.
InthepagesofCeremony,anovelthatcombinesextraordinarylyricismwithaforebodingsenseof
personalandnationaltragedy,LeslieMarmonSilkofollowsTayoashepursuesasometimeslonely
andalwaysintenselypersonalquestforsanityinabrokenworld.AsTayosearchesforself‐
knowledgeandinnerpeace,thereader,too,embarksonacomplexemotionaljourney.Inobserving
Tayo’seffortstocometotermswithasocietythatdoesnotfullyacknowledgehishumanity,one
mayinitiallyfeelpersonalsympathywithhischaracter.However,asSilko’snarrativesteadily
metamorphosesintoanindictmentofsocialandhistoricalforcesthathaveledtoTayo’ssuffering,
thereader’sfeelingsarelikelyalsototransform,assimplepitygiveswaytosolemncontemplation
oftheatrocitiesthatournativepeopleshavebeenforcedtoundergo.
AuthorInformation
LeslieMarmonSilkowasbornin1948toafamilywhoseancestryincludesMexican,LagunaIndian,
andEuropeanforebears.Shehassaidthatherwritinghasatitscore“theattempttoidentifywhatit
istobeahalf‐breedormixed‐bloodperson.”AsshegrewupontheLagunaPuebloReservation,she
learnedthestoriesandcultureoftheLagunapeoplefromhergreat‐grandmotherandotherfemale
relatives.AfterreceivingherB.A.inEnglishattheUniversityofNewMexico,sheenrolledinthe
UniversityofNewMexicolawschoolbutcompletedonlythreesemestersbeforedecidingthat
writingandstorytelling,notlaw,werethemeansbywhichshecouldbestpromotejustice.She
marriedJohnSilkoin1970.PriortothewritingofCeremony,shepublishedaseriesofshortstories,
including“TheMantoSendRainClouds.”Shealsoauthoredavolumeofpoetry,LagunaWoman:
Poems,forwhichshereceivedthePushcartPrizeforPoetry.In1973,SilkomovedtoKetchikan,
Alaska,whereshewroteCeremony.SilkohasfollowedthecriticalsuccessofCeremonywithaseries
ofothernovels,includingStoryteller,AlmanacfortheDead,andGardensintheDunes.
Nevertheless,itwasthesingularachievementofCeremonythatfirstsecuredheraplaceamongthe
firstrankofNativeAmericannovelists.LeslieMarmonSilkonowlivesonaranchnearTucson,
Arizona.
13
DiscussionQuestionsforCeremony
1. ReaderssometimesfindthereadingofCeremonyadisorientingexperience,inpartbecauseSilko
frequentlyshiftsscenesandtimeframeswithoutwarning.Howdoesthistechniquehelpthereader
toparticipateinTayo’sthoughts,emotions,andexperiences?Isitsinfluenceonthenarrative
consistentlythesame,andisitalwayseffective?
2. HowdoesTayo’sstatusasahalf‐breedinfluencehischoices,histhinking,andthewayheis
perceivedbyothercharactersinthenovel?Whattensionsandconflictsdoeshismixedancestry
contributetoSilko’sstory?
3. ForwhatreasonsdoTayoandhiscousinRockyjointheArmy?Inwhatwaysdotheyandtheother
youngNativeAmericanmenbenefitfromtheirarmedservice,andwhydothesebenefitsevaporate
oncethewarisover?
4. Ceremonyhasbeendescribedasastoryofstrugglebetweentwocosmicforces,onebasically
masculineandoneessentiallyfeminine.Assumingthistobetrue,whataretheimagesof
masculinityandfemininitythatSilkopresents?Isthisgenderedanalysisanadequatewayof
understandingthenovel?Arethereimportantideasthatitleavesout?
5. CeremonyoffersthesuggestionthattheEuropeansettlersofAmericawerecreatedbythe
“witchery”ofanamelesswitchdoctor.Whatistheeffectofthisassertion?Doesitmakewhite
peopledemonicbyintimatingthattheyareagentsofevil,incapableofdoinggood?Or,tothe
contrary,doesitsomehowabsolvethemfromblamebecausetheyaremerelytoolsofthe
“Destroyers”andarenotreallyresponsiblefortheiractions?
6. HowdothepoemsandlegendsthatareinterspersedinSilko’stextinfluenceyourreadingofthe
novel?WhydoyouthinkSilkocentersEmo’staleofdebauchery(pp.57–59)onthepageinthe
samewaythatshecenterstheolder,sacredstories?
7. OneaspectofwhiteculturethatTayoespeciallyresentsisthewayinwhichitseducational
practices,particularlyinstructioninthesciences,dismissNativebeliefsas“superstitions.”Whatare
thesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthewayTayofeelsaboutthetreatmentofhisancestral
beliefsandthewayinwhichabelieverinthecreationstoriesofGenesismightrespondto
Darwinism?Towhatextentisthenovelastoryofthestrugglebetweentechnologyandbelief?
8. BlindnessandinvisibilityarerecurringmotifsinCeremony.WhatdoesSilkosuggestthroughher
repeatedusesofinabilitiesorrefusalstosee?
9. Silko,whohassufferedfromheadaches,depression,andnauseasimilartothosethatplagueTayoin
hernovel,hassaid,“Iwrotethisnoveltosavemylife.”HowisCeremonyanovelofsalvation,for
Tayo,foritsauthor,andforitsreaders?Whatarethelimitstothesalvationthatitappearstooffer?

14
TheJoyLuckClub
InTheJoyLuckClub,AmyTanexploresthedifferentmother‐daughterrelationshipsbetweenthe
characters,andatalowerlevel,relationshipsbetweenfriends,lovers,andevenenemies.She
presentstheconflictingviewsandthestoriesofbothsides,providingthereader—andultimately,
thecharacters—withanunderstandingofthementalitiesofbothmotheranddaughter,andwhy
eachoneisthewaysheis.EachofthefourChinesewomenhasherownviewoftheworldbasedon
herexperiencesinChinaandwantstosharethatvisionwithherdaughter.Thedaughterstryto
understandandappreciatetheirmothers’pasts,adapttotheAmericanwayoflife,andwintheir
mothers’acceptance.Thebook’snamecomesfromtheclubformedinChinabyoneofthemothers,
SuyuanWoo,inordertoliftherfriends’spiritsanddistractthemfromtheirproblemsduringthe
Japaneseinvasion.SuyuancontinuedtheclubwhenshecametotheUnitedStates—hopingtobring
lucktoherfamilyandfriendsandfindingjoyinthathope.CriticsappreciateTan’sstraightforward
manneraswellastheskillwithwhichshetalksaboutChinesecultureandmother/daughter
relationships.ReadersalsoloveTheJoyLuckClub:womenofallagesidentifywithTan’scharacters
andtheirconflictswiththeirfamilies,whilemenhaveanopportunitythroughthisnoveltobetter
understandtheirownbehaviorstowardswomen.AnyreadercanappreciateTan’shumor,fairness,
andobjectivity.
AuthorInformation
AmyTanwasborninOakland,California.HerfamilylivedinseveralcommunitiesinNorthern
CaliforniabeforesettlinginSantaClara.BothofherparentswereChineseimmigrants.Herfather
andoldestbrotherdiedofbraintumorswithinayearofeachother,andAmy’smothermovedher
survivingchildrentoSwitzerland,whereAmyfinishedhighschool.Amyreceivedherbachelor’sand
master’sdegreesinEnglishandlinguisticsfromSanJoseStateUniversity,andshemarriedin1974.
AmytookhermotherbacktoChinain1987,andthetripgaveheranewperspectiveonher
relationshipwithhermotherandinspiredhertocompleteTheJoyLuckClub.
15
DiscussionQuestionsforTheJoyLuckClub
1. HowdoesJing‐Meifeelabouttakinghermother’splaceintheClub?
2. DescribewhyAn‐Mei’smotherleftherwithrelatives.
3. WhatdidYing‐YingdiscoverabouttheMoonLady?
4. Doyouthinkitisfairlycommonthatsomemotherscreateresentmentintheirchildrenby
tryingtodothingstheyfeelareintheirchildren’sbestinterests?Canyouthinkofany
examples?
5. HaveyoueverhadanexperienceasembarrassingasJingMei’spianorecital?Haveyouever
beenaskedto,forcedto,orencouragedtotrytodosomethingthatyoujustcouldnotdo?
6. Doyoubelievepeoplegrowupwithcertainpersonalitytraitsthatcan’tbechanged?
16
MyGrandmotherSmokedCigars
Thesestoriespresentaseriesofcarefullydrawnhumansketchesofindividuals‐‐familymembers,
likethegrandmotheranduncleCirilo;friendsandacquaintances,liketheall‐aroundcowboyNegro
Aguilar;andElacioSandoval,theboyhoodfriendofthenarratorwhosefearofmarriageand“love
themorleavethem”approachtotheoppositesexmakesexcitingandhumorousreading;and
Roberto,whoaftergoingtotownfornails,reappearsafterathree‐yearabsencetocontinueasif
nothinghashappened.Ulibarriestablishesacarefulbalancebetweenchildhoodmemoriesandan
adultperspectivewhilecarefullyanalyzingtheproud,independent,andsturdyatmosphereofrural
NewMexico.Classic,legendaryheroesoftheHispanicpastreappearinthesepagesand,inthe
wordsoftheauthor,“…sweetenedandenrichedmylifethenand,now,Irememberittenderly”
(ChicanoLiterature:AReference…393).
AuthorInformation
SabineR.UlibarriwasborninSantaFe,NewMexico,September21,1919,andraisedinTierra
Amarillawhereheattendedlocalschoolsthroughthetwelfthgrade.HetaughtschoolinRioArriba
CountyandsubsequentlyinElRito,NewMexico.Hemarriedin1942andspentthefollowingthree
yearsservingintheU.S.AirForce.Hefinishedhisbachelor’sdegreeattheUniversityofNewMexico
in1947andhisM.A.degreeinSpanishin1949.HecontinuedhisgraduatestudiesattheUniversity
ofCaliforniaatLosAngeles,wherehetaughtandstudiedfornineyears.Afterservingintheprivate
sectorasaconsultant,healsoservedaschairoftheDepartmentofModernandClassicalLanguages
attheUniversityofNewMexico.
17
DiscussionQuestionsforMyGrandmotherSmokedCigars
1. Inyouropinion,whatistheauthor’soverallpurposeinwritingthesestories?Afewpossibilities:
Topreserveafamilyofpopularhistory;captureandpreservelocalcolor;entertainment;to
showaworldnottoodifferentfromourown;topreserveinwritingwhatthemindsoreadily
forgets.
2. WhatmakesUlibarri’sstorytellingstylememorable?Whydowerememberthecharactersand
theiractivitieslongafterwehavereadthework?
3. Isthereanythinguniqueabouttheauthor’suseofvocabularyandwordselection?Inwhatways
doesSpanishworduseaffecttheseworks?
4. Whywouldhechoosethestoryofthegrandmotherandhereccentricitiesandpeculiaritiesfor
thetitlestory?
5. Whatishumanaboutthesestories,andhowdoestheauthorachievethatdescriptivequalityin
hiswriting?
6. Whyisitimportanttorememberthattheworksaresetinaspecificenvironment,i.e.New
Mexico,TerraAmarilla,LasNutrias,RioArribaCounty?
7. Whatthemesbecomeapparentinthebook?Indomitablespirit;thebattlebetweenthesexes;
lossofinnocence;ritesofpassage;initiation;theclashbetweencultures;religionvs.secularism;
understandingthelandandnatureasameansofunderstandingthepeople?
8. Howdoestheauthorviewhisowncharacters;aretheysympatheticallydrawn?
9. Whatcommentistheauthormakingaboutthequalitiesofindependence,honestly,thriftiness,
beinggenuine,religiousfaith,etc.?
10. Tosomedegree,severalofthestoriesseemtobecounterpoised(almostopposites),while
othersseemtoreinforcemessages.Whatcouldbesaidoftherelationshipbetween:husband
andwifeinMyGrandmotherSmokedCigars,LaKasaKK,andHeWentforNails,Witcheriesor
Tomfooleries?andThePenitentes;MyUncleCiriloandElacioWasElacio?
11. WhyisManoFashicodifferentfromeveryotherstoryinthevolume?Whatcouldbetheorigins
oftheseepisodes?
12. WhatisuniqueabouttheculturalperspectiveinthestoryElnegroAguilar?Whatroledoesrace
playintheinterpersonalrelationshipsintheregion?Is“ElNegroAguilar”blackorHispanic,or
doesthatmatter?Why?
13. Isthereadistinctionmadebetweenreligiousfaith,theChurchleadershipandthemembership,
superstitionand/orwitchcraft?Istheresomethingtraditionalaboutthewaythoserelationships
arehandledintheHispanocommunity?
14. WhatroledoesMotherNatureplayintheday‐to‐dayoccurrencesofrurallife,andwhatshould
betheperson’sattitudeaboutnature?PleaseconsiderthestoryElApacheasapointof
reference.
15. Aretheredifferencesand/orsimilaritiesbetweenthesestoriesandtheworksofotherChicano
writersthatyouhaveread?Whatdifferences/similarities?Whydoyouthinktheyexist?
18
TheirEyesWereWatchingGod
ThisisanovelwhichtellsthestoryofJanieCrawford`ssearchforfreedomandfulfillmentthrough
herparticipationinblackculture.ItisasimportantthatJanieisawomanasitisthatsheisblack;the
combinationofthesetwoqualitiesmadeTheirEyesWereWatchingGodagroundbreakingnovel.
AuthorZoraNealeHurstonwasamemberoftheHarlemRenaissanceandspentherentirelife
strugglingtokeepherpeople’sculturalheritagealive.WritteninHaitiwhiletheauthorwasdoing
fieldwork,thisnovel“embalmed”allherpassionforherrecentlyabandonedlover.More
importantly,theworkcombinestwocentralthemesfromHurston’slife:hersearchfor
independenceandfulfillmentandherloveforblackfolkculture.
AuthorInformation
HurstontellsreadersinherautobiographyDustTracksonaRoadsimplythatshedid“getborn.”She
grewupinEatonville,Florida,theonlyincorporatedallblacktownintheU.S.Hermotherfoughtto
giveherthefreedomto“lookwhitefolksrightintheface”andsetoutforthehorizon;shenever
discouragedHurston’sstorytellingandinventiveness.Afteralongstruggletoeducateherself,
HurstongraduatedfromBarnardCollegeinanthropology,blackfolkculturebecamehervocation.
WorkingunderthesupervisionofnotedanthropologistFranzBoas,Hurstonsetofftocollectblack
folktalesinsoutherntimbercamps,jookjoints,andstoreporches,andtostudyvoodooinNew
OrleansandHaiti.
19
DiscussionQuestionsforTheirEyesWereWatchingGod
1. Earlyinthenovel,Janieexperiencesamomentofawakeningwhilelyingunderapeartree.
Versionsofthatpeartreeimageformanimportantmotifinthenovel.Whatdoestheimage
mean?WhatusesdoesHurstonmakeoftheimageinotherpartsofthenovel?
2. HurstonincorporatesanumberoffolktalesintoTheirEyesWereWatchingGod.Whatfunction
doesthisfolkmaterialserveinthenovel?
3. Thenovelpresentsandtestsatleastthreedifferentunderstandingsofmarriage.Explainthese
differentunderstandings.Whatarethestrengthsandweaknessesofeach?
4. OnecritichasarguedthatTheirEyesWereWatchingGodhasan“awkward”structurebecause
JanieisforcedtonarratetoPhoebeeventswithwhichPhoebemustalreadybefamiliar.Isthe
structureofthenovelaproblem?WhatpositivepurposedoesJanie’snarratingeventswith
whichPhoebemustalreadybefamiliarserveinthenovel?
5. HowdoesthelanguageofthenarratorreflectagrowingsenseofintimacywithJanie?
6. Janie’sabilitytobecomeafullparticipantinblackfolkculturemakesitpossibleforhertofind
thefreedomsheseeks.InwhatwaysdoesthefolkculturehelpJaniesucceedinhersearch?
7. Hurston’snovelfailstoconfrontexplicitlytheproblemofblack/whiterelations.YetHurston
dramatizesthemanywaysinwhichracialtensionssurfacewithintheblackcommunity.What
evidenceofthisracialtensiondoyoufind?Whatwerethereasonsforthesetensions?How
doesHurston’streatmentofprejudicesamongblackscontributetothethemeofthenovel?In
whatwaysdowhite/blackrelationsenterthenovel?
8. AliceWalkerhasobservedthatoneofHurston’smostattractivefeaturesisher“racialhealth—
asenseofblackpeopleascomplete,complex,undiminishedhumanbeings.”Fromyourreading
ofthisnovel,howdoyouunderstandHurston’sattitudetowardrace?
9. Forsomeyearsnow,thisnovelhasbeengrowinginpopularity.Whatfeaturesofthework,in
youropinion,havemadethisnovelanenduringclassic?Whataboutthenovelmakesitappeal
toreaderstoday?

20
TheBeanTrees
MariettaGreerleaveshomeinabeat‐up'55Volkswagenbug,determinedtogetawayandtoavoid
pregnancy.Headingwestandsavoringherfreedom,shechangeshernameto"Taylor"whenhercar
runsoutofgasinTaylorville,Illinois.AforlornCherokeewomandropsababyinTaylor'spassenger
seatandaskshertotakeit,andshedoes.Taylornamesthelittlegirl"Turtle,"becausesheclings
withanunrelenting,reptiliangrip.WithTurtleintow,TaylorlandsinTucson,Arizona,withtwoflat
tiresatanautorepairshopcalledJesusIsLordUsedTires.Italsohappenstobeasanctuaryfor
CentralAmericanrefugees.Taylormeetsthehumanconditionhead‐on,assheexperiences
motherhood,responsibilityandindependence.Theheartofthisfunny,inspiringbookisits
affirmationofrisk‐taking,longandfriendship,abandonmentandbelonging,commitmentand
everydaymiracles.
AuthorInformation
BarbaraKingsolverwasbornin1955andgrewupinruralKentucky.Sheearneddegreesinbiology
fromDePauwUniversityandtheUniversityofArizona,andshehasworkedasafreelancewriter
andauthorsince1985.AtvarioustimesinheradultlifeshehaslivedinEngland,France,andthe
CanaryIslands,andhasworkedinEurope,Africa,Asia,Mexico,andSouthAmerica.Shespenttwo
decadesinTucson,Arizona,beforemovingtosouthwesternVirginiawhereshecurrentlyresides.
HerbooksincludeTheBeanTrees,Homeland,HoldingtheLine:WomenintheGreatArizonaMine
Strike,AnimalDreams,AnotherAmerica,PigsinHeaven,HighTideinTucson,ThePoisonwoodBible,
ProdigalSummer,SmallWonder,LastStand:America’sVirginLands,Animal,Vegetable,Miracle:A
YearofFoodLife,TheLacuna,andFlightBehavior.
Kingsolverwasnamedoneofthemostimportantwritersofthe20thCenturybyWritersDigest.In
2000ShereceivedtheNationalHumanitiesMedal,ourcountry’shighesthonorforservicethrough
thearts.In2011,KingsolverwasawardedtheDaytonLiteraryPeacePrizeforthebodyofherwork.

21
DiscussionQuestionsforTheBeanTrees
1. WhereisGodinthisbook?
2. Whyaretheresomanyreferencestotelephones?
3. Whyarenamessoimportant?
4. What'swithalltheplants?
5. Howdoesthebookaddressfear?
6. Howaregenderrelationsportrayed?
7. WhatdoesKingsolverhavetosayabouthowAmericanstreatothernationalities?

22
TheSecretLifeofBees
TheSecretLifeofBeesisa2002historicalnovelbyAmericanauthorSueMonkKidd.Setinthe
AmericanSouthin1964,theyearoftheCivilRightsActandintensifyingracialunrest,SueMonk
Kidd'sTheSecretLifeofBeesisastoryofcoming‐of‐age,oftheabilityoflovetotransformourlives,
andtheoften‐unacknowledgedlongingfortheuniversalfemininedivine.Addressingthewoundsof
loss,betrayal,andthescarcityoflove,Kidddemonstratesthepowerofwomencomingtogetherto
healthosewounds,tomothereachotherandthemselves,andtocreateasanctuaryoftruefamily
andhome.ItreceivedmuchcriticalacclaimandwasaNewYorkTimesbestseller.Itwasnominated
fortheOrangeBroadbandPrizeforFictionandwasadaptedintoa2008filmbyGinaPrince‐
Bythewood.
AuthorInformation
SueMonkKidd,borninSylvester,Georgia,graduatedfromTexasChristianUniversitywithaB.S.in
nursingin1970andworkedthroughouthertwentiesasaRegisteredNurseandcollegenursing
instructor.Shegotherstartinwritingwhenapersonalessayshewroteforawritingclasswas
publishedinGuidepostsandreprintedinReader'sDigest.ShewentontobecomeaContributing
EditoratGuideposts.Herfirstbooks,God’sJoyfulSurprise(HarperSanFrancisco,1988)andWhen
theHeartWaits(HarperSanFrancisco,1990),werespiritualmemoirsdescribingherexperiencesin
contemplativeChristianity.TheDanceoftheDissidentDaughter(HarperSanFrancisco,1996)
introducedthemesfromfeministtheology.Herfirstnovel,TheSecretLifeofBees(Viking,2002),
waswrittenoverthreeandahalfyears.IthasbeenproducedonstageinNewYorkbyTheAmerican
PlaceTheaterandbeenadaptedintoamoviebyFoxSearchlight,starringDakotaFanning,Queen
Latifah,JenniferHudson,AliciaKeysandSophieOkonedo.Hersecondnovel,TheMermaidChair,
waspublishedin2005,andmadeintoaLifetimemovieofthesamename.In2006,Firstlight,a
collectionofKidd'searlywritingswasreleasedinhardcoverbyGuidepostsBooksandinpaperback
byPenguinin2007.Thiscompilationofinspirationalstories,spiritualessays,andmeditationshas
beentranslatedintoseverallanguagesandhasover200,000copiesinprint.Kidd'snewbook,
TravelingwithPomegranates,co‐authoredwithherdaughterAnn,isamotherdaughtertravel
memoirdueoutin2009.KiddhasacknowledgedHenryDavidThoreau,KateChopin,Thomas
Merton,andCarlJungasinfluences.KiddiscurrentlyWriterinResidenceatPhoebePemberHouse
inCharleston,wheresheliveswithherhusband,Sanford(Sandy)Kidd,twochildren,BobandAnn,
andablacklab,Lily.

23
DiscussionQuestionsforTheSecretLifeofBees
1.Rightfromthestart,Lilycomesacrossasacomplexandinterestingnarrator.Howwouldyou
describeherfeelingsforhermother?ForT.Ray?ForRosaleen?Forbees?
2.Despitethemanydifferencesbetweenthem,LilyandRosaleenshareastrongbond.Whatisthe
sourceoftheirclosenessandhowdoesitsurvivethemanychangesinbothoftheirlivesoverthe
courseofthebook?
3.WhileLilyisstayingwiththeCalendarsisters,sheisintroducedtotheDaughtersofMary,their
traditions,stories,andrituals,includingtheLadyofChains.Wouldyoucallthisareligion?Atone
point,AugusttellsLily,"Yousee,everybodyneedsaGodwholookslikethem."Otis,aman,can
participateintheceremony,butnotLily.Whynot?
4.Thisbookisalsoaboutstoriesandstorytelling.Whataresomeofthestoriesthataretoldwithin
thebook?Whotellsthemandwhy?Pickonestoryandtellhowitrelatestothelargerthemesand
issuesinthebook.
5.Beesandbeekeepingareimportantelementsofthestory.Besidesbeingacentralfocusoflife
withtheCalendarsisters,theyalsohavesymbolicovertonesthatresonatethroughout.Discusshow
thebeelorecontributestothestory.Howdothebeeshelprevealcharacter?Howdobees
resemblehumans?Howdotheydiffer?Whyaretheysoimportanttothepeopleinthestory?Be
suretoconsiderthetitle:Whatistheirsecretlife?
6.Atfourteen,somewherebetweenchildhoodinnocenceandthecomplexitiesofadulthood,Lily
triestosortoutandunderstandwhosheissothatshecanbreakfreeoftheinnerturmoilthat
hauntsherandunchainherselffromherpast.Intheendsheappearstohavesucceeded.What
eventsandpeoplehavehelpedher?How?Andwhy?
7.Thisbookissetin1964inasmalltowninSouthCarolina,butherewearenowinIdaho,reading
anddiscussingit.Whataspectsofthestoryseemuniquetothattimeandplace?Whatthemes,
characters,andincidentsreachbeyondthattimeandplacetospeaktoyouasareader,hereand
now?

24
TheWomenofBrewsterPlace
Inherheraldedfirstnovel,GloriaNaylorweavesthetruthsandthemythsofsevenwomenliving
inBrewsterPlace,ableakinner‐citysanctuary,intoapowerful,movingportraitofthestrengths,
struggles,andhopesofblackwomenintoday’sAmerica.Vulnerableandresilient,openhanded
andopenhearted,thesewomenforgetheirlivesinaplacethatinturnthreatensandprotects—a
commonprisonandasharedhome.Naylorrenderspainfulandveryuglyhumanexperiences
withsimpleeloquenceanduncommonintuition.Herabilitytoestablishamemorablesenseof
placeandhistorymakesTheWomenofBrewsterPlacearemarkableliteraryaccomplishmentand
acontemporaryclassic.
Author Information
GloriaNaylor,firstchildofAlbertaMcAlpinandRooseveltNaylor,wasborninNewYorkCityon
January25th,1950.AlthoughshegrewupinthelargesturbancenterintheU.S.,herrootswerein
thesouthsinceherparentshadbeensharecroppersinRobinsonville,Mississippi.Naylor'sparents
taughtself‐validation,independence,andself‐confidence.Naylor'spersonalityresemblesher
mother's‐‐timid,quiet,andshy.Shealsoshareshermother'sloveofreadingandlibraries.In1963
NaylorandherfamilymovedtoQueens,amoremiddle‐classborough,whichincreasedNaylor's
awarenessofracism.Alsointhesameyear,Naylor'smotherjoinedtheJehovah'sWitnessesandin
1968Naylorfollowedinherfootsteps.TheJehovah'sWitnessesbroughtheroutofhershynessand
gaveheracause,communityandopportunityfortravel.Theyencouragedheralreadyactive
imaginationandbelievedinthepowerofthewrittenword,whichwouldhaveobviousimportance
toNaylorinthefuture.Unfortunately,theJehovah'sWitnessesalsoisolatedherfromherown
culture.TherewasanincredibleexplosionofblackliteratureatthetimeandNaylordidn'teven
realizeit.Shewitnessedforsevenyears,supportingherselfasaswitchboardoperator,but
eventuallylefttheJehovah'sWitnessesbecause"thingsweren'tgettingbetter,butworse."What
followedforNaylorwereyearsoftransformation.From1975‐1981sheworkedfull‐timeasa
switchboardoperator,pursuedwritingandattendedclassesatMedgarEversCollege,and
eventuallyBrooklynCollege.ShediscoveredfeminismandAfrican‐Americanliteraturewhich
revitalizedherandgavehernewwaystothinkaboutanddefineherselfasablackwoman.In1977
NaylorreadherfirstnovelbyanAfrican‐Americanwoman,ToniMorrison'sTheBluestEye,which
gaveherthecouragetowrite.Shebeganwritingfictionin1979andsubmittedastorytoEssence
magazine,whoseeditoradvisedhertocontinuewriting.ShereceivedherBachelorofArtsdegree
inEnglish,completedherfirstnovel,TheWomenofBrewsterPlace,andbegangraduateworkin
Afro‐AmericaninStudiesatYalein1981.Shediedin2016.

25
Discussion Questions for The Women of Brewster Place
1. Throughout the novel, Brewster Place is personified as a character itself. Is the street a
protagonist or an antagonist? What effect does this have on the impact of the story and on
its outcome?
2. What experiences and characteristics do the seven women characters of Brewster Place have
in common? How are they different from one another? In what specific and general ways do
the women support and comfort one another?
3. How solid is the logic in Butch’s philosophy that life is like eating sugar cane: “You gotta
know when to stop chewing...”? What are the advantages of that philosophy? What are the
weaknesses of it?
4. Mattie’s son Basil doesn’t stay long enough to go on trial. If he had, what do you expect
would have been the outcome of that trial?
5. Most of the women in this novel are mistreated by men, both emotionally and physically.
Why do you suppose these men treat these women this way? In what ways do women
mistreat men in this novel? Are there any positive relationships between men and women in
the book? In the most violent chapter of the book, Lorraine is raped repeatedly. Why, then,
does she kill poor old Ben?
6. At the end of the book, Kiswana and some of the others hope that their block party will be
successful and that their Block Association will benefit from some significant changes. What
do you expect are their chances for success? On what evidence do you base your opinion?
7. Using the Langston Hughes poem at the front of the book, discuss which (if any) characters
in the novel exhibit the characteristics he describes. Who dries up? Who festers? Who
becomes syrupy sweet? Who sags? Who explodes?
8. Some readers feel that this novel, like many novels about the experiences of poor black
people, is depressing and demoralizing. Others feel that its effect is uplifting and inspiring.
What do you think?
9. As the book begins, we are told how Brewster Place had been born. Throughout the story,
the street lives through the existence of its residents. In the end it is dying. What causes its
demise? In what ways will it never die? Would it be better off dead?
10. Dreams and memories contribute much to the substance of this book as well as to its
structure. In what ways is this a useful writing device? How might it confuse some readers?
What is the significance of Mattie’s dream at the end of the book?
Source:
Penguin Teaching Guide, prepared by Dr. Donald R. Gallo, Professor of English, Central Connecticut
State University, https://www.penguin.com/static/pdf/teachersguides/womenbrewster.pdf