CONFESSIONS OF A BIGAMIST
book group discussion questions
| 1. As young people, Michelle and Steve's relationship is solidified by surviving bad fortune. How has that colored their marriage? 2. Michelle is enthralled by the purity of the Brancusi sculpture, where she meets Wilson. Why does she quickly link Wilson with her desire to pare down her life? Do you think she unfairly stereotypes him? 3. Steve is both a calming, structural influence in Michelle's life and a source of low-grade, continual stress. In what ways does Wilson offer her a different relationship dynamic? Which man brings out the better side of Michelle? If you were a trusted friend of Michelle's, which partner would you steer her toward and why? 4. Michelle Banyon is a sophisticated urbanite who cherishes her privacy, Daisy Strait is a straight- talking, no-fuss firecracker with confidence in spadesamong strangers, while Mickey Collins is a spunky, outdoorsy gal who appreciates girl-talk over lunch. Define and discus three aspects of your personality. 5. Throughout the novel, Michelle seeks a voice of her own. It is a shocking and revelatory discovery when she suddenly realizes that Steve has never heard her speak or asked her to do so. This is a major breakthrough in her analysis of her marriage. Why doesn't she cling to this realization latter, when she is struggling to make a decision? 6. Michelle often comments on the pressure of expectation. In her final decision, do you think Michellee is conceding once again to the expectation of others? 7. Lehrer has said that bigamy is a metaphor for ambiguity. Can you think of the ways ambiguity and its resulting tension plays out around you, in our society and in your own life? Think of the tension that often occurs between freedom vs. security, intimacy vs. privacy, kindness vs. truth. Is ambiguity a necessary state? |
| Confessions | |||
|
 |
excerpt | |
|
|
ordering | |
|
|
faqs | |
|
|||
 |
 |
||
