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Flight Behavior, by Barbara Kingsolver. This book dealt with some intractable modern issues, like climate change and species extinction, all within a given family and small town in Tennessee. It's really the story of Delarobia, an unhappily married mother of two, with all those tough modern issues literally swirling around her. The book raised some questions, which you are free to comment on here in this discussion topic.
1) Why do you think the author set her story in rural Tennessee? How does the setting relate to the other themes of the book - especially the religious and environmental themes? Is the author fighting stereotypes here or exploiting them?
2) What was your impression of Hester, Delarobia's mother-in-law? Did your opinion of her change as you read further in the book? Do you think she was a hypocrite? Why did she reveal her secret to Delarobia, and do you think it mattered?
3) The role of the media is questioned here, as well. Do you think the TV journalists in the book cared about the butterflies? Do you think they cared about the climate issues involved? Do you think the media today, especially TV news, cares about the issues they cover? What do you think the role of TV news is, and what should it be?
4) How would you compare this book with the other "butterfly book" we read, The Butterfly's Daughter, by Mary Alice Monroe? The Butterfly's Daughter was kind of a road trip story, while in this one the main character was trapped in her place. Do you think both of them were a kind of adult coming-of-age story? What did the two main characters learn on their respective journeys, and how did the butterflies help them learn it?
I will ask these questions and others at the book discussion on June 13th at 2 pm. Come and join us!