Fresh Water for Flowers

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-12

Chapters 13-20

Chapters 21-42

Chapters 43-56

Chapters 57-76

Chapters 77-89

Chapters 90-94

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Book Club Questions

General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Were you surprised by the truth behind the young girl’s death? How did it reflect or contrast with your expectations?

2. Who do you think would benefit most from reading this book?

3. How does this novel compare to other works in translation that you’ve encountered (other examples from 2010s literature include Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, Genki Kawamura’s If Cats Disappeared from the World, and Etaf Rum’s A Woman Is No Man). Do you enjoy reading translated works? Do you notice differences in style depending on the text’s original language?

Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Based on Violette’s experiences, is a cemetery somewhere you would like to live? Why or why not?

2. How do attitudes toward death and the dead presented in the novel compare with attitudes in your own family or culture (or other attitudes that you’re aware of)?

3. Violette and her friend Nono believe that happiness is a choice that anyone can make. Do you agree with this perspective? Why or why not?

4. Several of the names in the novel have symbolic meaning. How do you feel about your own name? Do you feel it accurately reflects who you are?

5. What issues does this novel raise regarding parent-child relationships and a parent’s responsibility? Do you agree with this perspective? Why or why not?

Societal and Cultural Context

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. This novel takes place in France and was originally published in French before being translated into English. Did anything about the culture or events seem distinctly French? Would the story have developed any differently if it had taken place in an English-speaking country?

2. Consider the range of marriages and romantic relationships in the novel. What does the story communicate about monogamy and long-term commitment?

3. How did you feel about the novel’s depiction of sexual assault? How does it contribute to a broader discourse regarding the causes of sexual violence?

Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Discuss the author’s reliance on dialogue in Chapters 16, 39, and 48. How does this stylistic choice support the novel’s overall meaning? How does it impact its tone or atmosphere?

2. The novel incorporates the experiences of three different generations. How does this choice support themes of intergenerational trauma and the influence of the past?

3. What narrative techniques does the author use to create complex and dynamic characters?

4. What is the narrative, thematic, and/or symbolic significance of the book The Cider House Rules? Why do you think the author chose to feature this book in this context?