Book Group Discussion Questions
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1. Carole plainly states that "Hungry Hill" is her memoir, and that her brothers have their own stories to tell. How would this memoir be different if told from the perspective of another O'Malley? For example, discuss how the eldest son, Michael, would portray life at Lynwood Terrace. 2. How does history play a role in how life unfolded for the narrator? Think about public perceptions of alcoholism, women, and the rise of communism. 3. God, prayer, and Catholicism are mentioned throughout the memoir, both in positive and negative ways. Do you believe the narrator's hardships strengthened or weakened her faith, and why? 4. Stepmothers are stereotypically vilified by their stepchildren. Discuss Carole's depiction of Mary and whether you believe it was justified. In general, to what extent can the narrator be trusted? 5. Carole was determined to find a job and work hard at it. She found employment through her father's politically powerful friend ____. What was behind Carole's ambition, and why was Mary so upset about the way she found the job? 6. Why do you think Carole chose to write this memoir? Why now? 7. Carole was the only daughter among seven sons. Do you think this helped her stand out as a family figure, or marginalize her, or both? 8. Given the narrator's childhood experience, what do you imagine are Carole's priorities in raising her own children? 9. The narrator flashes forward to present-day conversations with her family members. How does this literary device shed light on the narrator's experience? Why did the narrator include adult interactions with her father, even though he had passed on years before? 10. Carole was frequently forced into adult situations - including last rites for her mother, buying a sofa, and caring for her young brothers. Discuss the juxtaposition of these situations with her interactions with friends at school. 11. In cases of alcoholism, treatment is frequently focused on preventing the alcoholic's self-destruction. Discuss how this memoir sheds light on how alcoholism can victimize other family members. 12. The O'Malley family never went without clothes or food, but money was an ever-present issue. Discuss how money played a role throughout the book, from allocation among siblings to Michael's gambling problem to the narrator's financial comfort as an adult. 13. Compare the deaths and funerals of the narrator's mother and father. Discuss how Carole portrayed the deaths differently, and how she reacted to them. What does this tell us about her relationship to her parents? | ||