WellRead’s February 2023 selection was Maame by Jessica George. Maddie - Maame - is at the heart of this novel: a British Ghanaian woman grappling with the dynamics of her unconventional family, the messy reality of friendship, the unwieldy nature of grief, and the reality of finding out who she is when she's only ever been told.
Use these discussion questions to engage with the book further, whether in a book club with friends, or just on your own as you digest the story.
Reading questions for Maame by Jessica George:
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How does the meaning of the word maame evolve throughout the story, and how does Maddie’s relationship to it change?
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What does Maddie's reliance on Google say about her character? How did the inclusion of her search results affect your reading experience?
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What does the book have to say about caregiving and who is expected to assume caregiving roles?
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How do religion and God play a role in the story? Are the two distinct at any point to Maddie?
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Maddie’s mother tells her to “keep family matters private”. How does this affect Maddie’s ability to connect with people?
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Maddie is often the only Black person in the room at her jobs. Discuss how this impacts her career trajectory and what it reveals generally about how companies approach diversity in the workplace.
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How does Maddie experience less overt forms of racism - like microaggression and unconscious bias - in her dating experience?
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Chat about Maddie's family dynamic and how secrets, guilt, absence and regret play their part in it. What impact does Maddie's dad's death have on their dynamic?
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Maddie and her dad never spoke to each other much, but they clearly had a deep and genuine relationship. Why do you think they were so close?
- How does Maddie's self-perception evolve in the novel? What does she learn about herself?
Please note, these questions were written and distributed in February, 2023.