Day Late and a Dollar Short, A by Terry McMillan
By APOOO • Jun 13th, 2008 • Category: Discussion Guide •
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Day Late and a Dollar Short, A by Terry McMillan BUY IT NOW
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Of all the siblings, who had the toughest time growing up? Or did they all start out with more or less the same advantages and disadvantages?
2. Sexual abuse is a very harsh reality that both Lewis and Shanice suffered. What do you think Janelle can do to prevent the experience from further damaging Shanice?
3. Are there parallels between Janelle’s relationship with George and Brenda’s relationship with Cecil?
4. Lewis picks up lady friends easily and relies heavily upon them when he gets into trouble. To what extent is this a result of his being brought up amidst so many women?
5. Viola and Charlotte share the same birthday, a coincidence that they insist debunks the claims of astrology. Are their personalities completely different or are there characteristics that they share?
6. Paris has a very tolerant attitude about her son’s sexual activity. Would she have been as liberal about contraception and abortion if Dingus had been a girl?
7. Viola doesn’t have an affectionate or close relationship with either of her sisters. How does this play into her hopes for her own children and grandchildren?
8. Do you agree with Dr. Greene’s assessment that Al was justified in hiding the existence of his illegitimate son from Charlotte? Why or why not?
9. Alcohol and drug addiction play a prominent role in the Price childrens’ problems. Could the family have done more to help Lewis face up to his alcoholism and Paris, her Vicadin addiction?
10. Would Charlotte have been able to address her anger if she hadn’t won the lottery?
11. Cecil claims to love Viola, even when he leaves her for Brenda. How “real” is Cecil’s love? How do you feel about Viola’s supportive attitude towards Cecil’s relationship with Brenda?
12. In light of the turmoil each of her children is still in at the time of Viola’s death, what do you think about the novel’s title?
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