The Literature and Language Book Club will meet from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, January 17 in Room 3N-6 at the Harold Washington Library Center to discuss The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg.
Here are some of the discussion questions from the author's website and from the moderator to consider as you read:
- Why can’t Edie divorce herself from her relationship with food? What drives her obsession with food?
- Do you believe Richard made the right decision in breaking off his marriage with Edie?
- Each of the characters struggles with their responsibility to Edie. Why didn’t Edie’s family act sooner? Are the other characters at fault here, or do you believe it is Edie’s responsibility to care for herself?
- What role does Jewish heritage play for Robin, when she feels so conflicted about her faith?
- Were you surprised that Edie’s boyfriend was the one to find her when she finally passed? At the end of this chapter, one sentence reveals a lot about Kenneth’s heartbreak: “No one was entitled to anything in his life, least of all love.” Do you agree or disagree?
- Do you believe the family was close? Why or why not?
- How did the suburban Chicago setting affect your experience with the novel?
