Book Club Discussion Questions
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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, and our BookBrowse Review of Killer Smile.
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- Mary feels a little bit like "everywoman" to Lisa. Do you
think this is true? Does it make her more believable? How about more
likable? Can you see a bit of Mary in the women you know? Do their necks
get red splotches when they are nervous too?
- Do you believe you can find true love on a blind date? Do you think
your friends and family would be able to pick out the perfect mate for
you? Do you have a horrific blind date story that you are willing to
share? Did you like Mary with Bachelor #1, Bachelor #2, or Bachelor #3?
- Were you surprised to learn that Italian Americans were interned
during World War II? Do you think the government was justified in going
to such extreme measures to allay the fears of Americans who were
feeling threatened and vulnerable? Do you feel safe today, in your
country? Where do you think the boundary is between the government's job
to protect its citizens, and personal civil liberties?
- Mary and Judy have been through a lot together and have remained
faithful friends. How far would you go for your best friend? Should your
best friend accept you just the way you are, or do you rely on them for
honest constructive criticism? Is it time for Mary to try and talk Judy
into some fashion sense, and should Judy try to get Mary to let her hair
down a bit and act more her age?
- Mary still seeks her parents' approval, although she is old enough to
be a mother herself. Do you ever outgrow the need for your parents'
approval?
- Mrs. DiNunzio faces a personal crisis that really gives Mary pause,
and changes the whole dynamics of the family. How hard is it for a
parent to relinquish the role of caregiver, and is it natural for the
child to step into the role of the parent? Do you think Mary is ready to
wield the wooden spoon?
- Is it time for Mary to get a boyfriend, or does she just need a pet?
Do you think she was too obsessed with Amadeo and his case? Do you think
she continued to work on the case just to satisfy her own needs, or do
you think it was her desire to be a people pleaser, and not let down the
whole neighborhood that drove her?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of HarperTorch.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
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