Sara's Laughter (Milton) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
1. To what extent is Sara influenced by the voice of her mother in her head?

2. What’s the difference between the messages Sara gets from her mother and her father about her inability to get pregnant?

3. What issues does Sara confront as she uses the technology available to women who have fertility problems?

4. Evaluate the advice that Sara gets from Dr. Vesely.

5. How would you describe Sara’s relationship with her mother?

6. Does Sara achieve separation from her mother?

7. Sara’s sister accuses her of being daddy’s little girl. Is this a valid accusation?

8. Why is Marcelo the right man for Sara?

9. Marcelo has two complications: he is married, and he isn’t white. Which complication is harder for Sara’s mother to deal with? What does that tell us about her mother?

10. How deep do you think her father’s racism is?

11. Would Becky have been a different person if she had been an only child?

12. Explain Becky’s behavior after she got pregnant.

13. What do you think of Sara’s solution to her sister’s problem?

14. What perspectives do we gain from Sara’s conversations at lunch with her friend Regina?

15. What perspectives do we gain from Sara’s conversations with Father Paul in front of St. Brigid?

16. How does Sara’s view of the local abortion clinic evolve during the story?

17. Would Sara have joined the protesters in front of the clinic solely as a matter of principle?

18. Why is Sara mesmerized by Brother Jeremiah?

19. What did Sara and Becky learn about themselves that changed their relationship?
(Questions issued by the author.)

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