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Book club questions for “French Braid” by Anne Tyler explore the themes of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the impact of past events on our present lives.
The novel follows the Garrett family on their first and last family vacation in the summer of 1959. The family members have grown apart over the years, and each has their own dreams and aspirations. As we follow their lives across the decades, we see how their past experiences and decisions shape their present and future relationships.
Anne Tyler’s writing style is known for its subtlety and depth, capturing the nuances of human emotion and experience with a quiet power. With “French Braid,” Tyler creates a compelling and nuanced portrait of family life that is both universal and deeply personal, drawing readers into the world of the Garret family and allowing them to see themselves reflected in the lives of the characters.
In this post, I’ll provide you with a few book club questions to help you kickstart your discussions, and explore some of the themes and motifs that make “French Braid” such a compelling read. I think this novel is a perfect choice for book club discussions, as it offers plenty of opportunities to delve into deep conversations about family dynamics, the nature of forgiveness, and how we can move forward from the past.
So grab a cup of tea, curl up with the book, and get ready to dive into the world of the Garretts. Share your own interpretations and opinions in a thoughtful and engaging book club session, and explore the many ways in which family relationships can both unite and divide us.
The Synopsis
The Garretts take their first and last family vacation in the summer of 1959. They hardly ever leave home, but in some ways they have never been farther apart. Mercy has trouble resisting the siren call of her aspirations to be a painter, which means less time keeping house for her husband, Robin.
Their teenage daughters, steady Alice and boy-crazy Lily, could not have less in common. Their youngest, David, is already intent on escaping his family’s orbit, for reasons none of them understand. Yet, as these lives advance across decades, the Garretts’ influences on one another ripple ineffably but unmistakably through each generation.
Full of heartbreak and hilarity, French Braid is classic Anne Tyler: a stirring, uncannily insightful novel of tremendous warmth and humor that illuminates the kindnesses and cruelties of our daily lives, the impossibility of breaking free from those who love us, and how close—yet how unknowable—every family is to itself.
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Selected Reviews for French Braid
“French Braid proves once again that nobody can write about small family moments quite like she can.” —Real Simple
“Any Tyler book is a gift . . . Thoroughly enjoyable . . . Funny, poignant, generous, not shying away from death and disappointment but never doomy or overwrought, it suggests there’s always new light to be shed, whatever the situation, with just another turn of the prism.” —Observer
“French Braid is a family saga of uncommon subtlety and grace, a novel which shows that, at 80, Anne Tyler is still amongst the very best writers around.” —The Spectator
“Subtle and powerful . . . A multi-layered and masterly exercise in sympathy and understanding.” —Times Literary Supplement
“Lushly imagined, psychologically intricate, virtually inhalable . . . At every leap, Tyler balances gracefully between tenderness and piquant humor, her insights into human nature luminous. Tyler is a phenomenon, each of her novels feels fresh and incisive, and this charming family tale will be honey for her fans.” —Booklist (starred)
“Well-crafted . . . Affecting . . . As always, Tyler offers both comfort and surprise.” —Publishers Weekly
Book Club Questions for French Braid
Spoiler alert: my book club questions contain spoilers, so make sure to discuss them after you’ve finished reading.
1. As you revisit the first chapter of the novel with the full story in mind, consider how your initial predictions for Serena may have evolved. Were your notions about her family’s disconnection accurate, or did the revelations of the book provide new insight? In what ways did the author use the first chapter to foreshadow the events of the novel? How did the structure of the book influence your reading experience?
2. Tyler is known for her ability to capture the small moments and idiosyncrasies of family life. What are some of your favorite examples of this in “French Braid,” and how do these moments contribute to the novel’s overall impact?
3. Mercy’s studio is a haven of calm and creativity. Consider what your ideal space would look like, and how you would spend your time there. What role does a physical space play in shaping one’s mental and emotional well-being? How does Mercy’s studio reflect her personality and life experience?
4. David’s assertion that his father didn’t like him is a powerful moment in the book. Consider how this statement impacted your perception of Robin, and whether you believe it to be true. How does this revelation contribute to the broader themes of the novel, particularly around the challenges of family relationships?
5. How does Tyler use the structure of the novel to explore the relationships between different generations of the Garrett family? What do we learn about each character from their interactions with others, both within and outside the family?
6. The Garrett family undergoes significant changes over the course of the novel, from the 1959 vacation that opens the story to the family reunion that brings them back together years later. How do the characters evolve over time, and what does the novel suggest about the cyclical nature of family dynamics?
7. Mercy’s aspirations to be a painter often clash with her duties as a wife and mother. How do her choices and desires impact her relationships with her husband and children? What does her character say about the challenges faced by women in mid-20th century America?
8. The imagery of the Garretts’ summer vacation is rich and varied. Consider which scenes and details stood out to you the most, and why. How did the experience of vacationing together shape Alice, Lily, and David’s future paths? Drawing on your own memories, share your own defining moments from a childhood trip. How did those experiences influence who you are today?
9. Throughout the novel, the marriage of Mercy and Robin is a central theme. As you reflect on their relationship, consider how your perceptions of the couple shifted as the details of their story were revealed. Did Robin ever truly feel secure in his marriage and with his in-laws, despite his proposal plea? How did the expectations of marriage and relationships change over time, and what remained the same?
10. Alice and Lily represent two distinct versions of womanhood and motherhood. Consider how their temperaments and life experiences have influenced their paths. What did they learn from Mercy about finding fulfillment in life, and in what ways did they forge their own paths? How do their different approaches to motherhood reflect their individual worldviews?
11. Anne Tyler’s work often explores the relationship between time and memory. Consider how the timeline of FRENCH BRAID contributed to the novel’s realism and character development. How did cultural expectations for women evolve over the course of the story, and what remained consistent? In what ways did the characters confront and grapple with the passage of time?
12. A recurring theme in the novel is the ritual of bringing home a partner to meet the family. Consider how these encounters play out for the Garretts and how they reflect broader cultural and societal norms. What drives the quest for approval, and what motivates those who push back against new relationships? How do these dynamics shape the characters’ relationships with one another?
13. The story of Desmond, the Motts’ cat, was a poignant and memorable moment in the novel. Reflect on your own reaction to this plotline, and consider how it contributed to the broader themes of the book. How did the experience of losing a pet impact the Motts, and how did it shape their relationships with one another?
14. The cousins in the novel are complex and multifaceted characters. Consider how their personalities and legacies were shaped by those who came before them, and in what ways they charted new paths. Why do the cousins struggle to know one another well, and what impact does this have on their relationships? How do the family dynamics influence the cousins’ individual journeys?
15. The surprise 50th anniversary party was a complex event, encompassing both heartbreak and humor. The family’s efforts to maintain the open secret of Robin and Mercy’s separation has a heavy emotional cost, as they are forced to constantly pretend and hide the truth. This begs the question of what other aspects of their family life require them to maintain this façade. How does this emotional labor affect their relationships with one another, and what kind of toll does it take on their own sense of self?
16. FRENCH BRAID is a masterful exploration of humanity and the intricacies of family dynamics, offering new insight into the human condition in the wake of the pandemic. How does this novel build upon the sketches of humanity that emerged in previous books by Anne Tyler that you have read? What unique perspectives does it offer, and how does it challenge us to think differently about our own lives and relationships?
17. Mercy’s character is layered and complex, leaving us to ponder whether she is truly a merciful person, both with others and with herself. Her paintings reveal a deep interest in the intricacies of homemaking and what it means to create a sense of home. In watching her navigate Manhattan with Kendall, we see a side of her that is adventurous and daring, yet also vulnerable. How does this contrast with her life in Baltimore, and what does it tell us about her character?
18. The closing scene of the novel is a poignant and heartwarming moment, as we see David’s fierce love for Benny distilled into a single moment of connection. What truths can we glean from this scene about the nature of love, and how it manifests in different relationships? How does David’s love for Benny reflect his own journey of self-discovery and growth throughout the novel?
19. David and Greta’s description of the “ripples” that keep us tied to our families speaks to the fundamental differences in their upbringing, and how these differences continue to shape their lives. The interwoven nature of family can provide both comfort and confinement, depending on one’s perspective. How do you personally view the role of family in your life, and how has it impacted the person you are today?
20. The reviews of “French Braid” describe the novel as “classic Anne Tyler.” What aspects of Tyler’s writing style are on display in this book, and how do they contribute to its success as a work of fiction?
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed book club questions for French Braid! Here are some more book recommendations along with their synopses.
Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tinghui Zhang
Daiyu never wanted to be like the tragic heroine for whom she was named, revered for her beauty and cursed with heartbreak. But when she is kidnapped and smuggled across an ocean from China to America, Daiyu must relinquish the home and future she imagined for herself.
Over the years that follow, she is forced to keep reinventing herself to survive. From a calligraphy school, to a San Francisco brothel, to a shop tucked into the Idaho mountains, we follow Daiyu on a desperate quest to outrun the tragedy that chases her. As anti-Chinese sentiment sweeps across the country in a wave of unimaginable violence, Daiyu must draw on each of the selves she has been—including the ones she most wants to leave behind—in order to finally claim her own name and story.
At once a literary tour de force and a groundbreaking work of historical fiction, Four Treasures of the Sky announces Jenny Tinghui Zhang as an indelible new voice. Steeped in untold history and Chinese folklore, this novel is a spellbinding feat.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible. She likes her job, even if it isn’t exactly the one she expected. She’s happy with her apartment, her romantic status, her independence, and she adores her lifelong best friend. But her father is ailing, and it feels to her as if something is missing.
When she wakes up the next morning she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her 16th birthday. But it isn’t just her adolescent body that shocks her, or seeing her high school crush, it’s her dad: the vital, charming, 40-something version of her father with whom she is reunited.
Now armed with a new perspective on her own life and his, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?
Violeta by Isabel Allende
Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first girl in a family with five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth.
Through her father’s prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses everything and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling.
She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Her life is shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women’s rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and ultimately not one, but two pandemics.
Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humor carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.
Thank you for reading my book club discussion questions & happy reading! ❤️