A Painted House Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

1. Luke Chandler is exposed to events that many adults have never even seen. What is the effect of reading about these circumstances—from a difficult childbirth to the possibility of financial ruin—through the eyes of a seven-year-old narrator?
   
   
2. The Chandlers cannot afford some of the hallmarks of the 1950s American dream, such as a television set or a stylish-looking car. Yet other aspects of that time period, such as the Korean War, make an unmistakable impression on them. How does the Chandler household measure up to your own memories or impressions of that era?
   
   
3. Several generations of women are presented in A Painted House, including Gran, Luke's mother, and Tally. How do contemporary women compare to those three characters?
   
   

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Dell. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.