1. In her foreword, Marjorie Anderson describes these stories as
"fresh glimpses" of "what might otherwise lie just beyond our own
small circles of sight." How does reading about the diverse
experiences of other women affect you? Does it make you look at
events in your own life in a different way?
2. A number of the pieces in this collection tell of the
writers' secret thoughts and hidden experiences. Why do you think
the authors chose this collection as the right place to tell their
stories? Would you ever write about difficult events in your life,
or very private thoughts, and be able to publish your work for
everyone to read?
3. While some of the contributors write about painful or
life-altering events, others write about the simple joys that make
life worth living - whether a camaraderie with coworkers or a
connection to nature or the love for a pet. Compare these
approaches, perhaps by finding stories that come to similar
conclusions yet are remarkably different in topic or tone.
4. In "Notes on a Counterrevolution," Patricia Pearson writes
about the difficulty of being honest with her nieces about her own
youthful transgressions. What do you think about the "Don't make
the same mistakes I did" approach? Are we forced to be more honest
with kids these days than in the past? Why or why not?
5. Tracey Ann Coveart, in "I Am a Mother," writes about the
feelings of inadequacy that plagued her marriage and her social
life, due to her decision to be a full-time mom at an age when her
friends were all focused on their careers. Compare the stories in
this book that look at motherhood, and discuss the different ways
women choose to - or are forced to - balance their lives.
6. In "Polonia," Margaret Atwood writes about the compulsion to
give advice to strangers, due to something she terms a
"mother-robin hormone." Compare the different approaches to
advice-giving in this collection. Do you think this is an urge
particular to women? Why or why not? Does the wisdom one achieves
with age make it more or less likely a compulsion?
7. Which of the pieces in this collection affected you the most,
or stayed with you the longest? Did you find yourself connecting
more to the stories that mirrored your own experiences, or ones
that showed perspectives very different from your own? Were there
any pieces you just couldn't relate to or didn't like?
8. Have you ever tried to write about difficult aspects of your
own life? Is it easier or harder to open up about your own
experiences on the page than it is to talk candidly with family or
friends?
9. Some of the contributors to DT 3
are well-known writers, or have achieved a level of fame
for other reasons, like Silken Laumann and Chantal Kreviazuk.
Others are less known or are being published for the first time.
Did you find yourself approaching the stories differently, based on
whether or not you recognized an author's name? Were you ever
surprised by what you read as a result?
10. Dropped Threads 3 is broken into four
"parts," with the pieces grouped according to general themes. How
do these groupings enhance the connections you make between stories
that may be very unlike each other?