Reader's Guide: December 2010

	Lit by Mary Karr

The Liars' Club brought to vivid, indelible life Mary Karr's hardscrabble Texas childhood. Cherry, her account of her adolescence, "continued to set the literary standard for making the personal universal" (Entertainment Weekly). Now Lit follows the self-professed blackbelt sinner's descent into the inferno of alcoholism and madness—and to her astonishing resurrection. Lit is about getting drunk and getting sober; becoming a mother by letting go of a mother; learning to write by learning to live. Written with Karr's relentless honesty, unflinching self-scrutiny, and irreverent, lacerating humor, it is a truly electrifying story of how to grow up—as only Mary Karr can tell it.

1. What do you think of Karr's writing style?

2. Did you have difficulty getting through the book? If so, why do you think?

3. How do you feel about her mothering skills?

4. Have you ever tried to cope with an alcoholic?

5. Are you familiar with 12 step programs? If so, do you think Karr gave a good account of the meetings?

6. Based on Karr's presentation of her mother, what do you think of her? Do you think Karr's appraisal of her mother was fair?

7. Would you recommend this book to friends?

8. How did you feel about her husband, based on Karr's description?