Wed’s Bk Club mtg — Zoom link and Discussion Questions!

[bpgourmet@yahoo.com]

Here is the Zoom link for the Book Club meeting, this Wednesday, May 15, from 7:00 to 8:30pm.  The link did not get included in the May newsletter.  Let’s plan for very brief introductions before we begin our discussion.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82866209978?pwd=RhbTqGAAjahPVvO4SvHIHhgXxPEUS8.1 
Meeting ID: 828 6620 9978
Passcode: 527969

Here are two sets of discussion questions for “Seamstress of Sardinia” by Bianca Pitzorno.  It’s our first meeting, we’ll be getting into a groove, so the first set of questions from ReadingGroupChoices.com seem easier to start with.  And, if there’s time, we can take on a few from the second list!

Questions from ReadingGroupChoices.com (click on Discussion Questions)

1. In The Seamstress of Sardinia, the wealthy men have power over women. Or do they? In what way does our heroine turn that truism on its head?
2. Discuss the ways in which our heroine uses her “lesser” class to infiltrate the lives of other residents more seemingly fortunate than she?
3. Which of the characters “serviced” by the seamstress is your favorite? Why?
4. Would you describe the heroine as naïve? Savvy? Frightened? Or something else? Discuss.
5. While there is a bit of frothiness in this book—the discussions of clothes are delicious! — there are also more serious themes. What are those themes and how do you relate to them?

Questions from LoveReadingUK website

1. Summarise the themes of The Seamstress of Sardinia.
2. Discuss the different representations of love and kindness in the novel, and representations of injustice and unkindness. On balance, does the seamstress’ story reflect well on human nature? Does hope overshadow tragedy and inequity?
3. What does the novel reveal about the institution of marriage? Compare and contrast different marital relationships in the novel.
4. To what extent is The Seamstress of Sardinia a love story?
5. Discuss how the female characters variously deal with the roles and behaviours assigned to them by society.
6. “We poor people need to help each other out… because if we wait for the rich to come to our aid in times of need, we’ll be in trouble.” “Life had taught me to respect the rich, whatever their age, character or actions. Being rich made them stronger than us, capable of crush us, destroying us with a lick of their fingers… We always had to be respectful around them.”
Do you agree with these statements? How are they borne out in the novel? Do they resonate today?
7. Discuss the novel’s portrayal of intergenerational relationships.
8. What did you think of the structure of the novel?
9. What did you think of the translation? Were you ever especially aware it was translated?
10. What did you think of the writing style? Did it grip you? Did it move you?
11. How did you feel after finishing the novel? What did you learn from reading it? Do you want to read more of the author’s work?

Excited for Wednesday night!

Marion, cell 425-246-0021
&
Cynthia

[Author]

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