What are Marcia’s initial plans and expectations for the trip? What is the “subtle difference” (page 110) that Marcia senses in her and her mother’s relationship?ġ1. Discuss Marcia’s trip to New Zealand with Beverly. What are they looking for? Do they find it? How does this scene make you feel?ġ1. When Beverly visits Marcia again in New York City, they climb the stairs to Marcia’s apartment rooftop and “ up at the stars, at this same sky” (page 94). Where do Marcia’s roots in acting come from?ġ0. While Marcia is living in Maryland as a child, what happens to her friendship with the other girls? How does her mother react after she picks up Marcia from the principal’s office? Are you surprised by her reaction?ĩ. “Friendships that meant everything one day could be entirely vanished the next” (page 71).
What does she mean by that? What happens at the festival?Ĩ. Marcia attends the Bon Odori festival as a young girl, which changes her “sense of self forever” (page 63). Where did this “darkness” come from? Did it go away? How?ħ. In her description of her father, Marcia writes: “There was enough darkness in his head” (page 57). When the Hardens travel to Japan, what transformation does Marcia witness in Beverly?Ħ. What is it like to be the children of a US Navy lieutenant? How are things different at home when Marcia’s father, Thad, is away at sea?ĥ. In what ways do her memories stand out to you? How does Marcia’s child voice differ from her adult self’s voice?Ĥ. Describe how the author writes about memories of her childhood. Why do you think Marcia organizes the narrative in this way? How does this structure influence your reading? What is Beverly’s Flower Path?ģ. This memoir uses seasons and metaphors as its structure and Marcia often invokes the principles of ikebana, which her mother learned and taught to others.
How does Marcia describe Beverly to us in the prologue? What is Marcia setting out to do in writing their story?Ģ. With a razor-sharp wit, as well as the kind of emotional honesty that has made her performances resonate with audiences worldwide, Marcia captures the joys and losses of life even as her precious mother gracefully strives to maintain her identity while coming to grips with Alzheimer’s disease.ġ. Using the philosophy of ikebana as her starting point, Marcia intertwines the seasons of her mother’s life with her own journey from precocious young girl to budding artist in New York City to Academy Award–winning actress. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. This reading group guide for The Seasons of My Mother includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club.
Powerful and incredibly stirring, The Seasons of My Mother illustrates the unforgettable vulnerability and beauty of motherhood, as Marcia does what Beverly can no longer do: she remembers. With a razor-sharp wit, as well as the kind of emotional honesty that has made her performances resonate with audiences worldwide, Marcia captures the joys and losses of life even as her precious mother gracefully strives to maintain her identity while coming to grips with Alzheimer’s disease. Using the philosophy of ikebana as her starting point, Marcia Gay Harden intertwines the seasons of her mother’s life with her own journey from precocious young girl to budding artist in New York City to Academy Award-winning actress. It was here that Beverly, amid the many challenges of raising her family abroad, found her own self-expression in ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. As a military family, the Hardens moved often, and their travels eventually took them to Yokohama, off the coast of Japan, during the Vietnam War era. One of five lively children born to two Texas natives-Beverly, a proper Dallas lady, and Thad, a young naval officer-she always had a knack for storytelling, role-playing, and adventure. Marcia Gay Harden knew at a young age that her life would be anything but ordinary.
In this lyrical and deeply moving memoir, one of America’s most revered actresses weaves stories of her adventures and travels with her mother, while reflecting on the beautiful spirit that persists even in the face of her mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.