Indelible Reading Guide

1.      Voice: A memoir is a first-person narrative.  How would you describe the voice of the author?  What characteristics of the author were made evident through her storytelling?

2.      Values: By the author’s own account, she was driven to volunteer with CUSO by strong values.  What values do you think she held that made her want to volunteer?  Did these values endure or change during the experience?

3.      Characterization: How does the character of Bill enhance the story?  Chamali adds character to a real person in Sri Lanka.  How did she assist the author?

4.      Style: The author came from an academic background.  Do you think that she was successful in bridging the gap between academic writing and narrative writing?  Why or why not?  What examples are evident where there is a clear break from academic writing?

5.      Location: The author lived in two different locations in the story.  How did the climate, the racial origin of the people, and the environment impact her and her husband?  Which location would you have preferred and why?

6.      Supervision: The author struggled to bridge western therapeutic methods with culturally appropriate methods.  Did she find a way to bridge the gap?  What measures were taken?  Was it sufficient?  What do you think about western “do-gooders” going to another country to provide a service? 

7.      War: The war impacted the people of Sri Lanka.  In what way were the people impacted?  Although the war was over, did the war have an effect on the author?  In what way?

8.      Murder: There are two murders described in the book.  How did those murders impact you?  The author?  The family members?

9.      Torture: The author describes her research into the methods of torture and the treatment of torture victims.  How did that impact you as the reader?  PTSD is often a lasting effect of torture.  How can therapy mitigate some of the effects of PTSD?  What did you feel about her comparison of watching torture to pornography?

10.  Spirituality: In the story, the author immediately makes is evident that spirituality is important to her.  In what ways was her spirituality of assistance to her?  Was it ever a hindrance?  How did you feel about her relationship with Jesus?

11.   Emotion: The author admits to tears many times.  Was there a time in the story where the story provoked a powerful emotion in you?  What emotion comes to mind and why?

 

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