Book Club Group Discussion Questions

These questions also appear on www.facebook.com/FruitoftheVine.

1. What clues do we get from the story regarding Jem's heritage before it is revealed?

2. What does the white deer symbolize?

3. Where are the principles of nature versus nurture most evident?

4. When in the story does Jem's backward-gazing tendency change to a future-oriented outlook?

5. Why did Sandra marry Joe?

6. Who is the strongest female character, and why?

7. Do any of the characters remind you of people you know?

8. Why didn't Ed take care of the farm? Why is the cemetery important to him?

9. What does Jem's arrowhead symbolize?

10. Why did the author set much of the story during winter?

11. Why does Ed mistrust the government?

12. Why did the author choose wine country as the setting for the story?

13. Why is the title "Fruit of the Vine?"

14. Why is Laura interested in resurrecting lost parts of her heritage?

15. Joe says "You can’t complain about lack of jobs and oppose development. It doesn’t work that way.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

16. Do you believe Mary's story? Why or why not?

17. What is the attraction of Bender?