Characters |
|
Bookstore |
Others |
Louise –
owner, author Tookie Jackie Kettle
– former 7th grade teacher, sent Tookie books in jail Flora –
customer, ghost haunting store Penstemom
Brown “Pen” – clerk, artist, writer Asema – clerk Gruen –
part-time, German student Roland Waring “Dissatisfaction” – customer,
never satisfied Gary - dog |
Pollux –
Tookie’s husband, former tribal police Hetta –
Pollux’s niece Jarvis –
Hetta’s baby Laurent –
Jarvis’ father, a rugaraoo, “a wolf person who keeps coming back to life and
who returns to certain places” (page 160) Kateri
Tekakwitha – Flora’s foster daughter Danae Mara Budgie –
deceased, drugs taped to body |
For Discussion:
NOTE: Page numbers are from the hardback edition.
1.
What did you think of the first paragraph? Given that “sentence” is in the title and
has various meanings throughout the novel, was it a good introduction?
2.
The word “sentence” is significant for a variety
of reasons. Did this add to your understanding
and enjoyment of the novel?
a. The
opening quote, “From the time of birth to the time of death, every word you
utter is part of one long sentence,” Sun Yung Shin, Unbearable Splendor
b. Tookie’s
prison sentence
c. “What
I am trying to say is that a certain sentence of the book – a written sentence,
a very powerful sentence – killed Flora” (page 161)
d. “I
wish I could write a sentence like that” (page 161). Said by Louise.
3.
On page 4, Tookie tells the reader that she now “only
sells words” and then states, “Books contain everything worth knowing except
what ultimately matters.” This sentence is repeated on page 381 at the list of
books the author recommends. Why did the
author write that and what does she mean?
4.
Discuss the character of Flora. She was described as “an Indian wannabe”
(page 36), “nice, good-natured, not just friendly, but ready to help” (page
37), and looking “younger, remarkably younger, in spite of the long
refrigeration” (page 163). Her
daughter, Kateri, thought she and Tookie were best friends (page 101). Why did she annoy Tookie so much?
5.
What did you think about Flora’s book, The
Sentence, An Indian Captivity, 1862-1883?
It was handwritten in a notebook and could not be burned or cut with an
ax.
6.
One bookstore customer was nicknamed
“Dissatisfaction” and was one of Tookie’s favorite customers. He was described as a “Tantalus, whose
literary hunger perpetually gnaws but can never be satiated” (pages
97-98). He hated happy endings but would
not “quit even though he may come to hate it” (page 99). Could you relate?
7.
Discuss Tookie and Hetta’s relationship. Tookie could not help herself from worrying
and asking question. Was she acting like
a typical mom?
8.
Why didn’t Tookie want to know her real
name? Pollux knew it but would not say
it.
9.
How well did the author address the common
feelings at the beginning of COVID in the section “February 2020” starting on
page 147 and then throughout the remainder of the book?
10.
There were multiple references to reading and
books. Did you enjoy or relate to them?
a. “Books
aren’t meant to be safe. Sadly, or
heroically, depending on the way you look at it, books do kill people” (page
161).
b. Tookie
had two stacks of books she is reading, “a Lazy Stack and a Hard Stack” (page
73).
c. Tookie
wanted the writing in her books to have “a certain mineral density. It had to feel naturally meant, but not
cynically contrived” (page 164) and she was annoyed to authors who used
“winking cliff-hangers” (page 164).
d. Trends
in book titles on page 142: “girl” or “bone” in the title for example
11.
The book addressed several current issues:
sentencing disparities in general and in Native Americans and women, George
Floyd, COVID. Were all of these
needed? How did they move the story
along?
12.
Did the way the author approached these
situations feel true to you? Did you
gain any new insights?
13.
Do you think future readers, a generation from
now, will have an accurate understanding of these events after reading this
book?
14.
Did you find the resolution of the ghost story satisfying? Did you suspect the connection between Flora
and Tookie?
15.
How many of the books and authors mentioned in
the novel have you read? Did you think
they were worthy of being included? What
do you think was the author’s criteria for selecting the books to include in
the narrative as well as the lists in the back of the book?