Discussion Questions
1. How do you think the author handled the portrayal of his grandparents? Was it honest? Patronizing? True to life?
2. Do you think the writer used the right structure in this memoir—telling about the lives of his grandparents through 52 stories, as opposed to a straight narrative. Why or why not?
3. Did any of these stories help you recall past, but important incidents involving your own family?
4. The author and his father do a great deal of caretaking of these elderly people? Is that a model we should aspire to, or do we simply live in a modern society where professionals must do this caretaking?
5. Immigration is a hot topic in the news today. Does this book—directly or indirectly—have anything to say about America’s immigration issues?
6. Did this book teach you anything about collecting your own family stories (even if not for publication)? If so, how?
7. If you could pick one story or passage that had a profound effect on you—was illuminating, significant, especially amusing—what would it be?
8. If there’s anything you could have added or subtracted from this book, what would it be?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)
Eat Now; Talk Later (Vescovi) - Discussion Questions
Article Index
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