American Housewife (Ellis) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
Use our LitLovers Book Club Resources; they can help with discussions for any book:

• How to Discuss a Book (helpful discussion tips)
• Generic Discussion Questions—Fiction and Nonfiction
• Read-Think-Talk (a guided reading chart)

Also, consider these LitLovers talking points to help start a discussion for American Housewife...then take off on your own:

1. Of the 12 stories, which do you find funniest, or most pointed? Did the stories resonate with parts of your life? Did any of them offend you or make you uneasy? Which ones made you laugh the hardest?

2. What, precisely, in these stories, is Helen Ellis skewing? Talk about the stereotypical housewife and how each story, or perhaps all of them together, subverts the supposed ideal?

3. Follow-up to Question 2: On the surface, Ellis might be accused of poking fun at her creations. But is she? Could you make the case that, ultimately, her characters are sympathetic, silly or self-absorbed on the surface but with hidden depths, even tragic flaws?

4. Ellis has a brilliant touch with one-liners. Take the fury and near violence of "What I Do All Day"; then talk about that last line. How does it undercut what comes before? Were you taken by surprise?

5. Pick out other passages/lines to discuss. Do you find them sad, funny, poignant, or dead-on accurate: Here are a few for starters:

"Dead Doorment" —When my husband's at work I don't get lonely. I have plenty to do. There's the dusting.

"The Fitter—A perfect bra provides "the confidence of a homecoming queen. It's a tiara for your ta-tas.

"Hello! Welcome to Book Club!" —Your Book Club name will be a secret name that only we will call you. Trust me, you’ll like it. It feels like a dollar bill in your bra.

(Questions by LitLovers. Feel free to use them, online or off, with attribution. Thanks.)

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