Story Circle Network
Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

February 2000
Tender at the Bone

Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table
by Ruth Reichl

  1. One reviewer calls this "A perfectly balanced stew of memories". What food metaphor would you select to describe the whole book and which ones to describe individual chapters?

  2. In the author's note, she states that her objective was to be truthful (not factual) but above all tell a good story. Do you think she achieved her objective? Where did you feel that she "embroidered"?

  3. What do you think the title means?

  4. What if there had been no Aunt Birdie and Alice in Ruth's life?

  5. A lot of very interesting people came into Ruth's life. Who was most interesting to you and how did this person affect Ruth?

  6. Ruth's relationship with her Mother is the underlying theme in the book. What are your thoughts on how it both helped and hindered her?

  7. What is the significance of the last chapter?

  8. How does this memoir differ from others we've read? How is it similar?