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To what audience would you recommend The Greek House? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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12
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46
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April 11, 2026
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John Flanagan is an idealist whose experiences reflect the arc of Prohibition. How does this "rule follower" fare with a rogue partner, mountain moonshiners and criminals? What finally jolts him out of his passivity to pursue what he really wants?
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3
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9
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April 10, 2026
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Shine is bent on revenge but is continually thwarted. But when she finally has a chance to exact some justice she balks. Later, she muses that mercy & forgiveness are more complicated. How does this shift allow her to move forward?
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5
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14
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April 10, 2026
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Elsie craves a "happily ever after." How does this impact her choices about motherhood and marriage? Eventually she comes to understand that she is stronger than she knew. Do you agree that sometimes we just need to "rescue [our] own damn self"?
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11
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34
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April 10, 2026
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Shine is both starry-eyed and fearful of her first famous customer at the bar, Al Capone. She believes they are both "willing to do whatever it took to survive and keep their families safe." Do you agree? Does Shine discover a line she won't cross?
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7
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21
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April 10, 2026
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What did you initially think of Penelope, and of her relationship with Piers? How did your opinion of her change over the course of the novel? How about your opinion of Piers?
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10
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35
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April 10, 2026
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1000 Books March 2026 Read: Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis
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13
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54
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April 9, 2026
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Rita decided to take the Lusitania despite the warnings. Was she too trusting that the ship was too fast to be torpedoed? Or was she justified in feeling that her need to reach her brother outweighed the risk? Would you have boarded the ship?
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24
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52
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April 9, 2026
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Both Hiram and his abusive father were alcoholics; Jed's drinking dramatically changes his personality for the worse. Yet it becomes their livelihood. How do they deal with this contradiction? What do you suppose none of the Strong daughters drink?
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6
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17
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April 9, 2026
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Lidy believes "the lot of women isn't right"—specifically that undesired pregnancies disproportionately affects females. This situation plays out repeatedly over the course of the novel. Do you agree? Or is hers a sentiment and symptom of the era?
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15
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37
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April 9, 2026
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Hiram worships the memory of his dead wife Alta and grieves her; a put-upon Lidy resents her. Rebecca and Elsie crave her softness and stories, while Shine has no memories of her at all. How do you feel about this complicated voiceless character?
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14
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36
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April 9, 2026
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Making moonshine requires careful identification of the different parts of the distillate. Shine becomes an expert at this at an early age, but is far less adept at handling matters of her own heart. Are you glad she gets a second chance with John?
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17
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37
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April 9, 2026
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In the prologue, the premature baby is supposed be a boy. When a disappointed Hiram Strong holds his third daughter in his hands instead, he names her "Jace," which means "the Lord is salvation" and declares that she will save the family. Does she?
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10
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30
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April 9, 2026
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Two crashes happen almost simultaneously: Jed and Rebecca's car accident & the stock market crash. How does the aftermath of the wreck affect the Strong family? How does it mirror what happens to their community and the country at large?
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6
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19
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April 9, 2026
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Overall, what did you think of I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home? (No spoilers, please!)
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39
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238
|
April 8, 2026
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The novel is about the mass incarceration of women suspected of promiscuous, immoral, or lewd behavior. Were you aware of this history? Are there other similar instances mass incarcerations in the US that you know of?
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29
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129
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April 8, 2026
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Stella Temple lives in a highly dysfunctional home with a mother suffering from mental illness and an abusive father. In her case, do you think placement at the Colony was beneficial?
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18
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60
|
April 8, 2026
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Dinah Jefferies uses vivid sensory detail throughout the novel. How did her descriptions of food, color, and landscape influence your engagement with the story? Which depictions did you find most impactful?
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10
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32
|
April 8, 2026
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Jed longs to be a part of the Strong family and the moonshine business. When he finally gets the chance, how does he handle it? Do you feel sorry for him? Are his feelings of being used and discarded valid? Are the women better off without him?
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14
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37
|
April 8, 2026
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Thirza attempts to cope with her grief and confusion by immersing herself in painting. How does this artistic outlet serve as both a means of escape and a path to self-discovery?
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6
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22
|
April 7, 2026
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Men, whether in the service or not, if found carrying an infection, underwent treatments while going on with their lives. Considering the era, do you find this disparity "normal"? Why?
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13
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50
|
April 7, 2026
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Ruth Foster lives independently and doesn't understand why this is a problem. Why do you believe it was?
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11
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48
|
April 7, 2026
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Baker tells others that she feels the Colony is better for the women than sending them to prison. Do you think this is true?
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12
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41
|
April 7, 2026
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What future do you see for Baker, Ruth, and Stella?
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8
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43
|
April 7, 2026
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What do you think the novel suggests about the themes of family, loyalty, and forgiveness?
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4
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19
|
April 7, 2026
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Have you read any of the author’s other novels? If so, how does Women of a Promiscuous Nature compare?
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4
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21
|
April 7, 2026
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For what audience would you recommend Women of a Promiscusious Nature? Are there other novels or authors you’ve read that are similar in style or content?
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10
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53
|
April 7, 2026
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Thirza loved the sound of her mother’s typewriter as a child. “The rituals that hadn’t seemed...important...had turned out to be the things that...held a family together”. Do you agree with her? Are there rituals you can point to within your own family?
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5
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19
|
April 6, 2026
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As the story unfolds, Thirza uncovers more about her family's past. How do the revelations about her family's history impact her relationships with other characters in the novel?
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2
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12
|
April 6, 2026
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Nikki feels dissatisfied with nearly every aspect of her life in D.C. and is uncertain about what to do next. How did you feel when Mother Rita gave her the gift of a new life at the end of the book?
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11
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32
|
April 6, 2026
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