1.
Which character do you think got The Last Word in the book and why?
2.
Why do you think Lucinda Leavitt is obsessed
with the serialized story, She Knew She
Was Right; and in particular, Eurydice Emerson’s choice between her two
suitors? Why is the power of choice so important to Lucinda?
3.
Who is your favorite character and why?
4.
Lucinda Leavitt and Persephone Merritt are fast
friends. How are they similar to each other? How are they different? And how do
they help each other?
5.
David Randall asks Lucinda Leavitt whether she
would like to live in London or in the country. Which setting would you choose
and why? What was your favorite setting in the book?
6.
Lucinda Leavitt compares herself to a doll
several times in the story. How accurate do you think a doll represents how
women were treated and perceived during the Victorian Era?
7.
Lucinda Leavitt struggles against societal norms
and gender stereotypes that confine women from working in mathematics and business
during the Victorian Era. Do similar gender stereotypes still exist today? In
what ways is our society different?
8.
David Randall feels haunted by his late father’s
lack of confidence in his business abilities and his father’s constant
comparisons to his dead brother. How does that affect the choices David makes?
How does that affect how he sees himself?
9.
Persephone Merritt tells Lucinda Leavitt: “Then
stop caring what other people think. That’s the greatest cage of all. The only
person’s opinion that matters is your own.” Do you agree? Are we caged by
other’s perceptions of us?
10.
Mr. Leavitt tells his daughter, Lucinda, that all
the decisions he made were for her benefit. Do you believe his motivations? Is
he a good father?
11.
Lucinda Leavitt wants to know more about her late
mother. How does knowing your past help you chart your future course?
12.
Forgiveness and allowing others to change is a
theme in the novel. Should Lucinda Leavitt forgive Mrs. Randall for slighting
both her and her mother for their lower-class origins?
13.
Which character do you think changes the most in
the book and why?
14.
Do you think that the author Mrs. Smith was the
heroine of her own story or a victim of circumstances?
15.
Did you like the ending of Eurydice Emerson’s
story? Did you like the ending of Lucinda Leavitt’s story? Is there anything
you would change if you were given The
Last Word?
16.
How far would you go to discover the ending of a favorite book?
Study guide / book club / discussion questions
Study guide / book club / discussion questions
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