A Thousand Acres

Author: Jane Smiley
ISBN: 9780449907481

1. Discuss how the symbiotic relationship between person and place addressed in Ms. Smiley's choice of epigraph plays itself out in the novel? How does setting shape character? Character shape setting? Which seems to have the upperhand? How is Zebulon County itself a major character in A Thousand Acres ? 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Ginny's narration? Is she able to maintain clarity and candor throughout her chronicling of events? What gets in the way? Is she as forthcoming in discussing herself as she is in discussing others? Why or why not? How would the novel differ if told from the perspective of Rose, Caroline, Jess, or Larry? 3. At the outset of the novel, Ginny confesses that retrospection has not revealed too much about the drama that unfolded when her father decided to hand over the farm to Rose and her and leave out Caroline. 'I've thought over every moment of that party time and time again, sifting for pointers, signals, ways of knowing how to do things differ

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publish Date: 1992

Subjects: Fiction / General

This book is available in the following Community Centers: Women's Center (Location: Fiction)