Discussion Questions
1. In the beginning of the story, did you believe Marvin was innocent of the crime committed against his wife?
2. While in the hospital, Toni was interviewed by an investigator. How did she make you feel as she explained what happened the night she was assaulted? What were your thoughts of her at that point?
3. What were the dynamics between Toni and her sisters, Thelma and Stephanie?
4. After learning about Marvin's troubled upbringing, did you have any sympathy for him? Did it explain his crime of passion?
5. Toni and Justine had a rocky mother-daughter relationship. Justine, a smart kid, strove for a better life and learned self-preservation through negative reinforcement. Examples: She got good grades to avoid conflicts with her mother & she kept her bedroom clean to avoid the chaos that was beyond her walls. But, do you think Justine may have suffered from Post-traumatic stress disorder?
6. What were the similarities and differences between Toni and Marvin?
7. Toni finally realized her tolerance for abuse was learned from her mother as a child. From her childhood, she constructed an unhealthy concept of what real love was and discovered it was her own mind that kept her hostage in a dangerous marriage and unable to leave Marvin for years. What are some other reasons why People tolerate emotional/physical abuse at all cost?
8. Do you think Toni's children will break the cycle of violence?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)
Love Sick (Bright) - Discussion Questions
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