Mothers and Other Strangers Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, MLMs and Moms and our BookBrowse Review of Mothers and Other Strangers.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. How does your understanding of a "good" mother evolve over the course of the story? By the end, who did you see as a "good" mother in Mothers and Other Strangers, and why? To what extent do the cultural and societal expectations around what makes a "good" mother shape Joni, Beth Ann, Sydney, and Mae's character and decisions?
2. Sydney and Mae are the only characters we see as both daughters and mothers. How do these dual roles influence their choices and behavior at different points in the story?
3. People often turn to religion and community in times of grief or searching. What role does LilyLou and her church play in Beth Ann's life? When does she tend to turn toward these communities the most, and when she does, do you think they serve as a coping mechanism, a lifeline, a performance, or something else for her?

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