1. How does Pearl Yancey prepare her daughter for life? What advice does she give Ruth, both spoken and unspoken? What role does Pearl's ghost play in Ruth's life?

2. The key relationship in the novel is between mother and daughter. How do the various mother-daughter relationships differ? Are any of them healthy? How is madness passed down to the next generation of Fox's women? Does Nell break the chain of abuse?

3. How would you define the complex relationship between Rip and Ruth? Why does each need the other? How does each have the other trapped? What is it that finally enables Rip to act out against her employer?