Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think that Dale turned out to be a successful entrepreneur, given her very traumatic childhood? How much do you think is genetic (nature) verses environment and relationships with other people (nurture)?
2. Do you think there are life lessons to be learned from Dale’s dramatic life story?
3. Describe Bubbbe’s unusual behavior. How do you think it affected Mae’s life?
4. Considering the family dynamics, what challenger did the two sisters face?
5. How did Dale overcome the challenges she faced being the daughter of a hooker?
6. In the 50’s and 60’s why was being a hooker more acceptable than being gay?
7. What does the book tell us about "sister bonds?"
8. What character traits—both good and bad—do you think Dale learned from her parents and how do you think those traits shaped her life?
9. From both Mae’s and Art’s viewpoint why did their relationship survive?
10. What makes a survivor?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)
Hooker's Daughter (Stanten) - Discussion Questions
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