The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, by Kim Michele Richardson

Characters
Cussy Mary Carter – Bluet Elijah - father – active in miner’s union Charles Frazier – husband, died on wedding night Pastor Vester Frazier – Charles’ cousin, First Mountain Truth of Christ Church Doctor Junia - mule Pack Horse Library Project: Eula Foster – head librarian Harriet Hardin – bookbinder Queenie Johnson – Negro Pack Horse Librarian Birdie – youngest Sheriff Davies Kimbo Mr. Dalton – banker, Lovett’s friend	Bluet’s book route
	Monday Moffits        Angeline - age 16, pregnant       Willie – husband, shot in foot for stealing a chicken, blue fingers and toe nails        Honey – baby Jackson Lovett School        Winnie Parker – teacher        Henry – starving, died Mr. Prine The Smiths Loretta Adams – babysat Honey, new glasses Martha Hannah – husband, Devil John Tuesday Followed the creek bed Wednesday – Hogtail Mountain Evans family Marta Flynn R. C. Cole – Civilian Conservation Core, fire tower                      *Ruth - wife Thursday To outpost Friday Oren Taft’s Tobacco Top Community

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from the paperback edition.

1.       There were various references to reading and books in the novel. Which one particularly spoke to you?  For example:

a.       Page 43 – “A sneaky time thief is in them books.”

2.       Discuss the similarities between Bluet and her father – they both felt they were doing something important.  When Bluet asked her dad why he always went when he was picked to do the dangerous work, he replied, “That’s exactly why I have to, Daughter” (page 48).

3.       Discuss how different people were judged in the book. For example, Pastor Frazier was depicted as evil, but, “’He was an important man to some,’ Doc insisted” (page 117).  Also, the “blues” were at the very bottom of the social scale in the town.  Finally, a woman raped and violated “would be damned – persecuted and dismissed from her job” (pages 114-115) even though it was not her fault.

4.       After Frazier was killed after attaching Bluet, Doc told Elijah that people would still not understand because of their “fear of peculiarity, things that have no name or grasp” (page 115).  Why do we fear things that are different than we are?

5.       What did you think about Doc’s desire to run medical tests on Bluet?  If you were her, would you have consented?  Why didn’t the sheriff change his mind about her when Doc explained it was simply a medical condition?

6.       What was the difference between Doc’s idea that Bluet could be “fixed” (page 130) and her thought that she wanted to be “okay as a Blue” (page 130)?

7.       Did you understand why Bluet stopped taking the pills?

8.       Discuss the end of the novel? Were you surprised that so many people supported Bluet and Lovett and defeated the sheriff in the next election?

9.       Why did Eula change her mind about Bluet at the end of the book?

10.   How will Honey grow up? Will things change in her lifetime?