Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

What is the irony of the title Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons? Why do the women embrace this title and continue to apply it to themselves? What sense of shared identity does this group give them, and how is their name a reflection of that?

Discuss the setting of the book in Freesia Court, suburban Minneapolis, and the cultural background of the passing decades. How does the setting impact or reflect in the lives of the characters? In what ways do the characters respond to their culture and setting? Why does Lorna Landvik make the choices she does about what historical details to include and what to leave out?

Consider the role that the book club plays in each member’s life. You may, if you wish, extend this discussion to consider how the women relate to the different books. How is this investment in the club a reflection of the women’s individual personalities? What might Landvik be saying about the power of a book club as a social group and/or an intellectual outlet? What larger point may she be making about the power of literature?