Book and Author
Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky
Published in 2008, 624 pages.
In Kansas, three families have coexisted not-so-peacefully for more than one hundred and fifty years: the Grelliers, the Fremantles, and the Schapens. Into their lives comes Gina Haring, a relative of the Fremantles who is house-sitting the derelict family mansion while she puts her own life in order. Her lifestyle and beliefs will put her at odds with her neighbors—and test the mettle of a community being swept up in events beyond its control.
Description from book jacket
“In Sara Paretsky’s fantasies, she was raised as a child by adoring billionaires who showered her with love and opportunity. In real life, she was raised in rural Kansas by parents who fought constantly, and put her to work as a drudge in a once imposing house that sank into squalor.”
Read the rest of “Interview with Sarah Paretsky” by Suzanne Goldenberg in The Guardian (May 26, 2011). A printed copy of the full interview is provided in the book group notebook.
Discuss
Book discussion questions in the accompanying notebook are from Reading Group Guide, and they center on issues of family, community, grudges, and war. One of the characters in the book is sent to Iraq to fight. Read about the Iraq-US War from an article provided courtesy of the Gale World History database.
Enhance
Read more about Sara Paretsky’s life, books, and events at her website.
One of the important characters in the book is Gina Haring whose religious and political beliefs seem to spark more conflict in a town already deeply troubled. Read about a religion that you don’t know very much about and share a few facts you learned with the group. Use the Encyclopedia of Religion in our Reference Collection or visit www.religioustolerance.org.
Interact
Share a story about a small town you or one of your relatives lived in.