Winter Sisters (Oliveira) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
We'll add publisher questions if and when they're available; in the meantime, use our LitLovers talking points to help start a discussion for WINTER SISTERS … then take off on your own:

1. The obvious place to start, or even end, this discussion is to talk about the roles of women in the late 19th century. Consider that New York's age of consent was 10-years and that Dr. Mary Stipp professionalism was disparaged because she treated prostitutes.

2. (Follow-up to Question 1) The next area of discussion is to compare 19th-century women's rights (or lack thereof) with today's standards. How far have we come and how much further do we need to go?

3. Talk about the hypocrisy of many of Albany's "finest" citizens. Again, how does that compare to our own recent scandals?

4. Discuss the irony of Mary Stipp's observation that the freedom women had during the American Civil War vanished. "Therein lay the advantage of wartime. Men were too busy killing one another to take heed of women's activities." Didn't something similar happen with women who "manned" the factories and farm fields during the two world wars of the 20th century?

5. How would you describe Mary Stipp? In what way could you say that Mary is a voice for those who lack their own voices.

6. Have you read My Name is Mary Sutter, a prologue of sorts, which takes place 14 years before the events of Winter Sisters? If so, how well do the two books mesh with one another?

7. Winter Sisters is not for the faint of heart. Was it too painful for you to read?

(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online and off, with attribution. Thanks.)

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