The Sicilian Inheritance

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you enjoy the novel’s depiction of cross-generational connections between granddaughters and deceased grandparents? In what ways did it resonate with you?
• How did Sara transform as a character throughout the novel and her journey across Sicily? What positive traits did she develop or enhance?
• Consider Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. How do both novels depict cross-generational relationships between women? How are they different and alike?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• How does the theme of emotional legacy and inheritance make you reflect on your own familial legacy? Do you share similar stories of connection to a distant or deceased relative?
• Consider the societal violence depicted in the novel. Which section did you find most difficult to read or digest? Did these scenes surprise you, given the contemporary setting of the novel?
• Did Sara’s sense of loss—her career, her marriage, and her aunt—lead you to reflect on any area of or period in your own life? If so, how did this experience enhance your understanding of Sara as a character? If not, how did you perceive the effects of her recent losses?
• Cultural values and traditions play a central role in the novel.