Content: V=1, D=1, S=1, L=2
***Spoiler Alert!!! Don't read these unless you've read the book!***
***Spoiler Alert!!! Don't read these unless you've read the book!***
1. Retta obviously wants to become “somebody everybody listens
to” in her music. Do you think she also
wants to be somebody everybody listens to in her everyday life?
2. Were you surprised when Retta’s mom left her dad for
King? Do you think there is any way that
her mom and dad’s relationship could have continued?
3. Retta’s mom was obviously cheating on her dad, either
physically or emotionally, long before she ran away with King. Was she right to do this or did she deserve
the happiness?
4. Retta begins to feel as though maybe she and her dad pushed
her mom to run away – do you think this is true?
5. Chat tells Retta “you’ll be sleeping in your car permanently
unless you scrape together some originality.”
There is also a quote in the book that says “it is your own true voice
that will carry you.” Yet, at the end
Retta doesn’t sing her own song but “I’ll Fly Away” written by Albert
Brumley. Still, Chat hears that
un-original song and offers to help Retta out.
Why? Do you think Chat changed or
was it Retta who changed?
(Hint: Retta was able
to make the song her own because she was not just imitating someone, but was
truly connected to the song on an emotional level.)
6. When Retta’s mom ran away with King, Retta was prepared to
stay and take care of her daddy until he told her to go. At one point her narrative says, “Lots of
people probably left their families in times of trouble, but for some reason, I
didn’t have it in me to be one of them.”
However, Bobby McGee thinks she is making a mistake. Do you think Retta was right to lay down all
of her dreams or is a family crisis more important?
7. Do you like country music?
Why or why not?
