Lena St. Clair: “The Voice from the Wall”
1. Lena St. Clair acts as a ___________ for her mother. And she changes her mother’s odd expressions into English words that convey more mainstream thoughts.
2. After moving to San Francisco, what did Ying-ying do continually to fix her apartment’s “balance”?
3. Through the walls in her bedroom, what did Lena often hear?
4. What happened to Ying-ying’s baby?
5. After coming home, Ying-ying soon began to fall apart psychologically. How did Lena comfort herself? (Hint: it’s associated with the girl next door)
6. Why did Teresa go straight to Lena’s room and climbed onto the window ledge one day?
7. Later that night, Lena heard Teresa and Mrs. Sorci yelling. They were screaming accusations and sobbing, but also _________ with strange joy and love.
Rose Hsu Jordan: “Half and Half”
8. What book is used to prop up one of the kitchen table legs in An-mei’s apartment?
9. What’s happening to Rose and her husband, Ted?
10. What does Ted do for a living?
11. How did Ted change after losing a malpractice suit?
12. Rose reminisces an event from her childhood. When her family had taken a trip to the beach, what happened?
13. When did An-mei give up her search for Bing?
14. What does Rose describe as shaped “half by expectation, half by inattention”?
Jing-mei Woo: “Two Kinds”
15. What caused Suyuan to make Jing-mei take lessons from Mr. Chong, a retired piano teacher?
16. When Jing-mei discovered that Mr. Chong was deaf and so she could get away with playing the wrong notes while only keeping up the right rhythm, what does she decide to do?
17. What happened at a talent contest?
18. What caused Suyuan never to mention piano lesson again?
19. In the parable that precedes the third section of the book, a mother visits her daughter’s flat and expresses dismay at the ________ her daughter has placed at the foot of the bed. She believes superstitiously that this will cause her daughter’s marriage happiness to bounce back and deflect away.
20. What does the mother do about this?
Lena St. Clair: “Rice Husband”
21. What had Lena’s mother told her would happen for every grain of rice Lena did not finish at dinner?
22. Why did Lena begin to leave large portions of every kind of food?
23. How did Lena respond when she learned that the seventeen-year-old Arnold had suddenly died of a rare measles-related illness?
24. What was peculiar about the relationship between Lena and Harold ever since they met?
25. What business concept did Lena come up with for her husband’s firm, leading to his immense success?
26. Despite the fact that she works hard and shows great talent, why does Harold refuse to promote Lena?
27. When Ying-ying visits, what does she point out about the list of all the prices of shared items? (Hint: Harold has been unaware of this.)
28. During a fight between Lena and Harold, what breaks?
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