Ladies Night Out is a lighthearted novel that considers some thought-provoking issues. For example, when freedom of speech comes into conflict with community standards, which has priority? And how much influence do men have over women’s lives? How much should they have?
Here are some other questions for your reading group to discuss:
1. Small towns are unique in both their prejudices and their tolerances. Do you think you’d like to live in Hobart Junction?
2. Berlene and Charity keep secret from Reverend Goss their plans to go see the Top Cats. Was that okay? Was Hazel Bell right when she advised Berlene not to let her husband dictate her life?
3. There is a difference of opinion in Hobart Junction about what community standards should be. Who sets the standards in your community? Do you agree with them?
4. There’s not a lot of privacy in Hobart Junction. Is it worth giving up privacy in exchange for the advantages of living in a small town?
5. Do you think you’d like to be a member of Stitch and Bitch? Why do you think the women come back month after month, even though they may be criticized?
6. Berlene’s new cut gives her a surprising feeling of liberation. Have you ever had similar feelings when you changed your hair style? Have you ever worn your hair a certain way because other people thought it was best for you, even though it wasn’t what you really wanted?
7. Were you surprised when the people in black suits and shiny black shoes turned out to be from the liquor control board?
8. How does getting arrested affect the woman involved? What did they learn about the power of friendship?
9. Rita Lee decides not to report Boyd-The-Barber to the police when she discovers that he’s the one who has been making the threatening phone calls. Did she make the right choice?
10. How did your own beliefs about religion and morality affect your reading of the novel? Do you think the religious community was portrayed fairly?
11. At the beginning of the novel, Rita Lee, Walt, Audrey and Phil are all single and fairly content with their lives. By the end, Audrey and Phil are engaged and Walt and Rita Lee have made the first tentative steps toward commitment. What changed for each of them? Do you think they would have ever gotten together if it wasn’t for the Top Cats show?
12. If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?
Here are some other questions for your reading group to discuss:
1. Small towns are unique in both their prejudices and their tolerances. Do you think you’d like to live in Hobart Junction?
2. Berlene and Charity keep secret from Reverend Goss their plans to go see the Top Cats. Was that okay? Was Hazel Bell right when she advised Berlene not to let her husband dictate her life?
3. There is a difference of opinion in Hobart Junction about what community standards should be. Who sets the standards in your community? Do you agree with them?
4. There’s not a lot of privacy in Hobart Junction. Is it worth giving up privacy in exchange for the advantages of living in a small town?
5. Do you think you’d like to be a member of Stitch and Bitch? Why do you think the women come back month after month, even though they may be criticized?
6. Berlene’s new cut gives her a surprising feeling of liberation. Have you ever had similar feelings when you changed your hair style? Have you ever worn your hair a certain way because other people thought it was best for you, even though it wasn’t what you really wanted?
7. Were you surprised when the people in black suits and shiny black shoes turned out to be from the liquor control board?
8. How does getting arrested affect the woman involved? What did they learn about the power of friendship?
9. Rita Lee decides not to report Boyd-The-Barber to the police when she discovers that he’s the one who has been making the threatening phone calls. Did she make the right choice?
10. How did your own beliefs about religion and morality affect your reading of the novel? Do you think the religious community was portrayed fairly?
11. At the beginning of the novel, Rita Lee, Walt, Audrey and Phil are all single and fairly content with their lives. By the end, Audrey and Phil are engaged and Walt and Rita Lee have made the first tentative steps toward commitment. What changed for each of them? Do you think they would have ever gotten together if it wasn’t for the Top Cats show?
12. If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?