7. On this page, Isabel a thinks about her young nephew, Connor, “Al he wanted was to know what to expect. His world didn’t look like he’d thought it would, and she understood. How could he keep calm if he couldn’t see?” Who else does this describe?
8. Why does “the ham” become so significant for Lauren?
9. Mary wonders why nobody warned her that during her first year as a lawyer, “You wil be constantly afraid.” ( this page) What role does fear play in the women’s lives?
10. “Kristi and Todd stood with their shoulders touching, wrapped in the cloth. It reminded Isabel a of the way that Lauren and Kristi used to huddle together, whispering and laughing at jokes that only they understood.” (this page) Why does Isabel a get so emotional during the
“chuppah within a chuppah” wedding scene?
11. Connect the dots between Shannon, Dan, Barack Obama, and the contestants on “The Biggest Loser.” Why is hope so important?
12. Throughout the book, questions of identity pop up. For example, when a friend gets divorced and decides to keep her married name, Isabel a thinks it may be because, “She’s afraid no one wil remember who she is.” (this page) How do these characters determine who they are? By the end, who seems to have created the strongest sense of self?
13. What is the turning point for Isabel a in her relationship with Harrison?
14. Why is Lauren ready to cal the turtle Mark gives her Rudy, when she wouldn’t use that name for the goldfish?
15. Discuss the last scene. How have the women changed over the course of the book? Who is the most satisfied with her life?
16. Where do you imagine Isabel a, Mary, and Lauren wil be in five years?
SUGGESTED READING
Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin; Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner; Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy; The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan; How to Make an American Quilt by Whitney Otto; Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.