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Tender Graces Reader's Guide Tender Graces is haunted by many ghosts. How does the spiritual world aid both the young and the adult Virginia Kate?
The supernatural is a very real presence in Tender Graces. What psychic power does Miss Darla have? How does she help Virginia Kate, physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Explain the significance of the green-eye-jeweled horse pendant she gives to Virginia Kate.
How does Virginia Kate bear hardship? What extra-sensory power does she have? What is her quest? Has Virginia Kate broken the spell of her mother and grandmother’s lives?
What kind of person is Grandma Faith? Instead of running away, she uses her money to purchase material for a red dress, among other items, for Katie Ivene. Why do you think she does so? How do you think she died? Discuss her continuing presence in the book as a guiding spirit.
Virginia Kate often refers to her West Virginia mountain as her “sister.” What do you think she means by this appellation? Does Virginia Kate ever move emotionally from her mountain, as she moves physically and, if so, how? Additionally, explore the idea of mountain as character.
Katie Ivene is a tremendously complex character. Despite mocking her husband’s knowledge of Shakespeare, she studies his books in secrecy. Why did she give away her children, one by one? During her recovery after the accident, does Katie Ivene finally realize the single most loving thing she can do for her daughter is to send her away for a second time? What evidence proves this theory?
Why does Micah remain silent for so many years about the truth of Uncle Ar-vile’s death? How has Micah dealt with the event? What prompts him to tell the truth to Virginia Kate? Is Micah set free?
Andy seems to be the child least affected negatively by Katie Ivene’s actions. How does he retain his resilience and good humor, even after being tricked into abandonment in Louisiana? Why is he a risk-taker? Does he constantly test himself against some imagined challenge?
Frederick remains a puzzle until nearly the end of the book. Does Virginia Kate ever gain insight into her father’s drinking, his leaving, and his womanizing? What ties him to such a destructive personality as his mother? What does he do to signify he is at last able to break free from not only his mother’s legacy, but from Katie Ivene’s “spell”?
What makes Laudine so downright “ornery”? Discuss Laudine’s relationship with Katie Ivene, Frederick, her grandchildren, and with Rebekha. How does she compare with Grandma Faith?
How is Rebekha capable of such unselfish love? Why is she so different from her own mother? Do you see her as a force of salvation? If so, explain who she saves and how.
Why did Rebekha’s mother insist on taking a picture of the young Rebekha holding her dead infant brother? What does this action say about her? Is Rebekha correct in her assessment that her mother blames her for Laurence’s tragedy?
Discuss Bobby’s adoration of his “half” siblings, particularly Andy. Do you think he is “the lucky child?” What is his important role in his “half” sibling’s lives?
Why is Aunt Ruby evil? Or is she completely evil? Discuss her abuse of her sister Katie Ivene’s children. And why are Arville’s and Ruby’s deaths so satisfying to the reader? Discuss the universal human longing for evil to be horrifically punished.
How is Uncle Jonah untouched by the “taint” of some that are his kin? How did he escape his past?
What is Anna Mendel’s significance in the novel? What drives Anna Mendel as a force for good?
Though the reader encounters Mrs. Mendel’s nephew Gary only twice in the book, he is in Virginia Kate’s consciousness by the conclusion. How does Virginia Kate respond to his presence?
What role does Amy Campinelle and Mr. Husband play for Virginia Kate? What about Soot and Marco, Mrs. Portier? Are they symbols of stabilizing presences in Virginia Kate’s life?
Discuss the friendship between Virginia Kate and Jade. Why does Virginia Kate at first resist friendship?
The color red figures significantly in Tender Graces. Think of Katie Ivene’s red lipstick, nail polish, and dress, for example. What does the color appear to mean?
How does Virginia Kate think of the moon? Does she personify it as she does her mountain? Does it illuminate more than physical space?
Tender Graces lifts family celebration to an almost spiritual level. What are some of the events celebrated in both West Virginia and Louisiana? What part does food, music, and dance play in these celebrations? How does family celebration contribute to character development?
Fire is an important element in Tender Graces. What might Magendie be telling us with her uses of fire and ashes? Think about the fire that consumes both Grandma Faith’s body and her house. Think, also, of the creation of Ruby and Katie Ivene, and remember that cremation was an unusual burial method in the novel’s time frame. Why do you think Magendie chose to dispose of the two women’s bodies this way? Virginia Kate burns Micah’s drawing of the bloody man with holes in him. Why didn’t she simply throw away the disturbing picture? Is Magendie referencing Celtic mythological wildfire in her novel and in what ways? Obviously, Fionadala’s name is Celtic. Why do you think Magendie chose this name for Virginia Kate’s imaginary horse? Is the horse imaginary? Is there a possibility that Virginia Kate sees the horse as real?
Who do you think are Grandma Faith’s mother’s kin? What part do you think heredity plays in the development of Magendie’s characters? Does environment play an equally important role? Does the utter isolation of mountain hollers affect character development? How about the humid, Spanish moss-hung locales of south Louisiana?
Photographs figure prominently in Tender Graces. What is Magendie trying to show us about their power? What is Virginia Kate trying to clearly see?
What does her beloved sister mountain symbolize allegorically? How about the moon? Fionadala? Discuss Tender Graces as allegory.
What exactly are the tender graces referenced in Magendie’s title? Do all characters receive grace? Which characters are open to unearned blessings?
Look over Magendie’s Shakespearean allusions. What layer of meaning is added to Tender Graces by literary allusion?
Does Magendie write about religious hypocrisy? Think about Grandma Faith’s very name. What is its significance? Which characters exhibit unwavering faith—in themselves, in God, in both dead and alive loved ones, in a divine intellect? Does their faith help them in their life journeys, and, if so, in what ways?
Many characters in Tender Graces are on quests of different kinds. What is Virginia Kate’s quest?
Does Katie Ivene have a deliberate quest? Is there something for which she aches and searches? Why does she only appear to be a bad mother? Can you locate proof that one of her quests is indeed motherhood, though on the surface she seems to have her sights sets on far less worthy ideals?
What is Frederick’s quest? Why does he marry Rebekha? What role does education play in Frederick’s life? Does he hand down his passion for learning to his children? Why does Frederick so inconsistently deal with his addiction to alcohol? Does he find peace?
What is the “releasing” Magendie references at the end of Tender Graces?
Tender Graces Reader’s Guide created by Mary Ann Ledbetter, teacher, writer; Baton Rouge, Louisiana ------------------------------------------------------------ Secret Graces Reader's Guide Virginia Kate says, “Reminding some girls about their mommas made their eyes pinch up with sad and mad and hurt and hopes.” Why is her reaction to hearing about other girls’ mothers such a jumbled mixture of emotions?
“Why couldn’t daughters outgrow their mothers, is what I wondered.” Virginia Kate raises an excellent question. Why do you think it is so difficult for daughters to outgrow their mothers?
“I was part of her, no matter how late I came around.” Virginia Kate thinks of Rebekha as “sanctuary.” How is Rebekha salvation to Frederick and the children?
Micah closes his letter to Virginia Kate with the words “don’t forget me, Micah.” Explore the desire to belong so apparent in both Micah and Virginia Kate. Does Andy have those same feelings about belonging? What about Bobby?
Virginia Kate compares herself to “a tree with shallow roots that the storm would tear up and blow about.” What does she mean?
“Come home,” Virginia Kate hears her beloved West Virginia Mountain spirits call. Discuss the universal longing for home.
“I would be a part of something, the half to a whole,” Virginia Kate thinks after Dylan proposes marriage. She imagines a home with her own children. “We’d all be happy. I wouldn’t be lonely anymore.” Discuss the faulty reasoning that leads us to think another person can make us happy. What does our culture teach women about marriage?
What is the importance to Virginia Kate to be the storyteller of her family? Explore the idea of storytelling as a preserver of culture and tradition. Why do you think storytelling is such a valued activity in the South?
Virginia Kate shares a powerful bond with her deceased Grandma Faith. Explore the possibility of supernatural communication. In addition, what of Miss Darla, for whom Virginia Kate has a spiritual or extra sensory bond; how does their relationship help guide Virginia Kate?
How does Virginia Kate delude herself into thinking Dylan’s alcoholism is somehow different from her father’s? Explore this paradox repeated by so many of us today.
After Jade tells her a secret, Virginia Kate thinks, “Men didn’t like to know things and women liked to know too much. I wished to break the spell of women, but then most of us thought we’d do things different just as we stepped into the same messes we always had.” Explore the “spell of women.” Do you think Virginia Kate repeats her women-kin’s mistakes? Have you ever deluded yourself into “messes,” as Virginia Kate terms them?
Jade says, “Men let their habits out of the sack one piece at a time so women wouldn’t run out screaming if they just dumped them all out on the counter at once.” Is this true? Are men secretive by holding back their true natures? What about women’s secrets?
How do secrets affect families, friends, and other relationships? How can secrets destroy? How is one healed when a secret is released?
Explain the symbolism of the old green Plymouth Fury station wagon Mee Maw Laudine gives to Virginia Kate. What does the vehicle represent for Virginia Kate?
Virginia Kate feels a kinship to the one sunflower that looks in a different direction from the others. In what ways does Virginia Kate look in a direction different from other people? Is she secure in her difference? Explain.
“I hope I stayed the same, stayed connected to my kin and my Grandma Faith,” Virginia Kate says. Discuss the importance of family.
Virginia Kate is afraid of Gary’s affection for her. Is she being smart? Or just afraid?
Secret Graces Reader’s Guide written by Mary Ann Ledbetter, writer, teacher, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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