Book Club Discussion Guide for Scarlet Yearnings
Nov 15
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Welcome, book clubs! This guide is designed to spark thought-provoking and heartfelt discussions about the themes, characters, and emotions in Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire. Each question invites you to explore the depths of love, longing, and identity presented in these vivid stories.
Flexibility of Formats
Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire is available in a variety of formats to suit your reading preferences and lifestyle:
Introduction for Book Clubs
Scarlet Yearnings is a collection of twelve contemporary love stories featuring protagonists from diverse Black experiences. Through relatable characters and settings, the stories explore the complexity of love—its beauty, pain, and transformative power. Whether your club reads the book all at once or story by story, this guide will help frame your discussions.
General Questions
Which story resonated most deeply with you? Why?
How does the theme of yearning manifest differently across the stories?
In what ways do the characters’ ethnicities and cultural identities shape their experiences of love?
Did any of the stories challenge your perspective on love, relationships, or desire?
What role do setting and atmosphere play in the collection? How does Harlem, in particular, influence the characters and their stories?
Story-Specific Questions
Behind the Grand Doors of Paradise
How does the Malaysian doorman’s perspective as an observer shape the story’s message about connection and loneliness?
What might the “grand doors” symbolize in the context of his reflections?
Love Of My Mother's Mother
How does generational trauma influence the relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter?
Do you think the story provides a resolution to their tension? Why or why not?
Hot Subway, Love
What do you think the subway setting symbolizes in the story about two brothers?
How does the concept of love transcend physical existence in this narrative?
Love, Lift Me Up
Lust is a central theme here. Do you think it evolves into love, or does it remain lust? How can you tell?
How does the protagonist’s perspective on love and desire shift throughout the story?
Love, Mystical and Destined
How does destiny play a role in shaping the characters’ understanding of love?
What do you think the story says about balancing free will and fate in relationships?
Themes to Explore
The Power of Yearning: How does longing shape the lives and decisions of the characters?
Cultural Influence: Discuss how the stories explore love through the lens of cultural traditions and expectations.
Family Dynamics: How do familial relationships enhance or hinder the characters’ journeys toward love and connection?
The Other Side of Love: Were there moments in the book that focused on the pain or challenges of love? How were they resolved or left open-ended? What stories do you wish to read more about?
Activities for Book Clubs
Create Your Love Story: Write a one-paragraph love story inspired by a theme from the book and share it with the group.
Character Portraits: Assign each member a character to embody and discuss their motivations and challenges.
Yearning in Real Life: Share a moment from your life that aligns with the book’s themes of love and longing.
Leave a Review: Share your thoughts and reflections about the book by leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Closing Reflections
If you could ask Scarlet Ibis James one question about her writing or the stories, what would it be?
How do these stories compare to other love stories you’ve read?
Share Your Thoughts!
We’d love to hear how your book club experience went! Share your reflections and photos by tagging Scarlet on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram, using #ScarletYearnings, or leaving a review on Scarlet Ibis James’ Website.
Thank you for journeying into the world of Scarlet Yearnings: Stories of Love and Desire. 🌺
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