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Book Club Questions
Discussion Questions to accompany THE VIOLA FACTOR by Sheridan Brown
The Viola FactorSheridan Brown
1. One of the ways we learn about Viola is through the traumas she experiences. What were the major ones you think that almost “broke” her or “rescued” her?
2. Would the book have been more engaging if the story were written entirely through primary source document letter exchanges? A number of actual handwritten letters are included in this story. How do these affect the pace of reading?
3. What surprises did you encounter while unraveling Viola’s tale?
4. Throughout their life in Louisville Kentucky, Lewis and Viola attempt to learn about the effects of slavery and discuss ways to diminish it. What obstacles were in their way? What else could they have done?
5. Viola’s credo is given to her upon her mother’s death.
“It is you, my precious Vi, … Take risks my daughter. You are ready. You are strong. Be a schooled and tough woman who understands what is fair and just.”
Has anyone ever given you such a promise or responsibility that you felt you had to complete or follow in life?
6. William Henry Ruffner describes his Aunt Viola in vivid detail:
Poor Aunt Viola excites my deepest commiserations. She is a perfectly unique person - the most sensitive person I ever saw-… and the result is that she has abandoned society and spends her life cheaply and brooding over her wounds, griefs & anxieties until she has become the very embodiment of wretchedness. To think of such a woman being married to a Ruffner! I sometimes talk her into a more genial, hopeful mood but she falls back in a day or two, & for a day or two she scarcely comes out of her chambers…which periodically threatens her mind with unhingement.
Do you feel like he treated her fairly now that you know more about her traumas?
7. Booker T. Washington and Viola remain friends for life. What characteristics do you think the two have in common? What insights did they both learn about one another when he worked for her in Malden?
How do you think Viola’s insistence on perfection might have influenced Booker?
8. Locate a time in Viola’s life where you can feel her happiness radiate. Share it with the group.
9. Rewind Viola’s life passage between 1812-1903. What changes in politics, religion, social norms, fashions, and technologies did she experience?
10. How would a photograph of Viola hurt or enhance your head picture of her?
The Viola FactorSheridan Brown
1. One of the ways we learn about Viola is through the traumas she experiences. What were the major ones you think that almost “broke” her or “rescued” her?
2. Would the book have been more engaging if the story were written entirely through primary source document letter exchanges? A number of actual handwritten letters are included in this story. How do these affect the pace of reading?
3. What surprises did you encounter while unraveling Viola’s tale?
4. Throughout their life in Louisville Kentucky, Lewis and Viola attempt to learn about the effects of slavery and discuss ways to diminish it. What obstacles were in their way? What else could they have done?
5. Viola’s credo is given to her upon her mother’s death.
“It is you, my precious Vi, … Take risks my daughter. You are ready. You are strong. Be a schooled and tough woman who understands what is fair and just.”
Has anyone ever given you such a promise or responsibility that you felt you had to complete or follow in life?
6. William Henry Ruffner describes his Aunt Viola in vivid detail:
Poor Aunt Viola excites my deepest commiserations. She is a perfectly unique person - the most sensitive person I ever saw-… and the result is that she has abandoned society and spends her life cheaply and brooding over her wounds, griefs & anxieties until she has become the very embodiment of wretchedness. To think of such a woman being married to a Ruffner! I sometimes talk her into a more genial, hopeful mood but she falls back in a day or two, & for a day or two she scarcely comes out of her chambers…which periodically threatens her mind with unhingement.
Do you feel like he treated her fairly now that you know more about her traumas?
7. Booker T. Washington and Viola remain friends for life. What characteristics do you think the two have in common? What insights did they both learn about one another when he worked for her in Malden?
How do you think Viola’s insistence on perfection might have influenced Booker?
8. Locate a time in Viola’s life where you can feel her happiness radiate. Share it with the group.
9. Rewind Viola’s life passage between 1812-1903. What changes in politics, religion, social norms, fashions, and technologies did she experience?
10. How would a photograph of Viola hurt or enhance your head picture of her?
Book Club Questions
Discussion Questions to accompany THE VIOLA FACTOR by Sheridan Brown
The Viola FactorSheridan Brown
1. One of the ways we learn about Viola is through the traumas she experiences. What were the major ones you think that almost “broke” her or “rescued” her?
2. Would the book have been more engaging if the story were written entirely through primary source document letter exchanges? A number of actual handwritten letters are included in this story. How do these affect the pace of reading?
3. What surprises did you encounter while unraveling Viola’s tale?
4. Throughout their life in Louisville Kentucky, Lewis and Viola attempt to learn about the effects of slavery and discuss ways to diminish it. What obstacles were in their way? What else could they have done?
5. Viola’s credo is given to her upon her mother’s death.
“It is you, my precious Vi, … Take risks my daughter. You are ready. You are strong. Be a schooled and tough woman who understands what is fair and just.”
Has anyone ever given you such a promise or responsibility that you felt you had to complete or follow in life?
6. William Henry Ruffner describes his Aunt Viola in vivid detail:
Poor Aunt Viola excites my deepest commiserations. She is a perfectly unique person - the most sensitive person I ever saw-… and the result is that she has abandoned society and spends her life cheaply and brooding over her wounds, griefs & anxieties until she has become the very embodiment of wretchedness. To think of such a woman being married to a Ruffner! I sometimes talk her into a more genial, hopeful mood but she falls back in a day or two, & for a day or two she scarcely comes out of her chambers…which periodically threatens her mind with unhingement.
Do you feel like he treated her fairly now that you know more about her traumas?
7. Booker T. Washington and Viola remain friends for life. What characteristics do you think the two have in common? What insights did they both learn about one another when he worked for her in Malden?
How do you think Viola’s insistence on perfection might have influenced Booker?
8. Locate a time in Viola’s life where you can feel her happiness radiate. Share it with the group.
9. Rewind Viola’s life passage between 1812-1903. What changes in politics, religion, social norms, fashions, and technologies did she experience?
10. How would a photograph of Viola hurt or enhance your head picture of her?
The Viola FactorSheridan Brown
1. One of the ways we learn about Viola is through the traumas she experiences. What were the major ones you think that almost “broke” her or “rescued” her?
2. Would the book have been more engaging if the story were written entirely through primary source document letter exchanges? A number of actual handwritten letters are included in this story. How do these affect the pace of reading?
3. What surprises did you encounter while unraveling Viola’s tale?
4. Throughout their life in Louisville Kentucky, Lewis and Viola attempt to learn about the effects of slavery and discuss ways to diminish it. What obstacles were in their way? What else could they have done?
5. Viola’s credo is given to her upon her mother’s death.
“It is you, my precious Vi, … Take risks my daughter. You are ready. You are strong. Be a schooled and tough woman who understands what is fair and just.”
Has anyone ever given you such a promise or responsibility that you felt you had to complete or follow in life?
6. William Henry Ruffner describes his Aunt Viola in vivid detail:
Poor Aunt Viola excites my deepest commiserations. She is a perfectly unique person - the most sensitive person I ever saw-… and the result is that she has abandoned society and spends her life cheaply and brooding over her wounds, griefs & anxieties until she has become the very embodiment of wretchedness. To think of such a woman being married to a Ruffner! I sometimes talk her into a more genial, hopeful mood but she falls back in a day or two, & for a day or two she scarcely comes out of her chambers…which periodically threatens her mind with unhingement.
Do you feel like he treated her fairly now that you know more about her traumas?
7. Booker T. Washington and Viola remain friends for life. What characteristics do you think the two have in common? What insights did they both learn about one another when he worked for her in Malden?
How do you think Viola’s insistence on perfection might have influenced Booker?
8. Locate a time in Viola’s life where you can feel her happiness radiate. Share it with the group.
9. Rewind Viola’s life passage between 1812-1903. What changes in politics, religion, social norms, fashions, and technologies did she experience?
10. How would a photograph of Viola hurt or enhance your head picture of her?
