Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

Starting with the chronology of the book: what time period does the book cover? How does she handle relating her history? Is this distracting to you to follow, or do you think it enhances the experience?
Goldberg acknowledges her teachers of the past and present. Who was the grammar school teacher, the high school teachers, the teachers in her first life in Taos, then Minnesota, then back to Taos? What important teachers in your own life were you reminded of?
What is the significance of the title?
What is the influence of her environments on her writing and self development? What did she tell us about the power of the different landscapes she has lived in? Do you think her heart would have opened if she had stayed in the Long Island suburbs?
How did her childhood affect her in later life? The values, beliefs, and "rules" of relationship she grew up with seemed to restrict her as a child, but as an adult she broke free -- what allowed her to do this? Was there a "critical decision" made that led her away from her family's traditions to create her own life?
How do you relate to her struggle to focus in such a solitary task as writing? What happens when you attempt to write, or accomplish similar tasks? What are your distractions, what do you do about them? Was she a teacher to you in this struggle? Pick a favorite passage from the book that illustrates how she grew into a disciplined writer.