Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

Reconstruct the chronology of Nancy Ring's own story. What happens? Over what period of time? What is the theme of her story?
The last section of the book is called "Swing Cook." What does this mean? Do the section headings help you make sense of the book's emerging theme?
How many other story lines are threaded through Nancy's story? Make a list of these "other" stories. (In a novel, this is called multiple plotting.)
Choose your favorite "other" story line and review it. How is it related to Nancy's story? What does she learn from this other story?
How do you feel about this use of multiple plots, braided int o a single narrative? What do you think Ring is attempting to do? Do you think she succeeds?
What is your favorite recipe? How is it related to Nancy's story? to the other stories? What do you think is the purpose of the recipes?
Many of us read because we want to learn something new. What new things did you learn from Nancy's story? From the stories of Nancy's family? From the recipes?
Think about your own life for a moment. Are your family stories braided into your story, like Nancy's? If you didn't use food to show the intimate connections between your story and your family's story, what would you use?