Love, Ruby Lavender

Consider the characters’ names and what they represent. How are these characters’ names appropriate given their personalities and actions throughout the novel?

What role does religion play in the novel? Consider the fact that the Mississippi town is named “Halleluia” and that some characters attend church.

What role does the novel’s 1960s setting play in shaping the text? Analyze specific examples from the text in your response.

Though Melba blames Ruby for the accident and threatens to tell people about Ruby’s responsibility, she never actually does. What might motivate her decision? Use evidence from the text to support your response.

Why might Wiles begin the text almost a year after the accident? How does this narrative decision influence the author’s exploration of the themes, especially The Persistent Progression of Time and The Varied Responses to Grief and Loss?

How would the story differ if the narrator reported Melba’s thoughts and feelings rather than Ruby’s? Why might have Wiles chosen to focus on Ruby as the protagonist rather than Melba?

The narration often references vivid color. The paint that spills on Melba is “peacock-blue,” Eula’s house is “Shell-shocked Pink,” Hawaii is “COLORFUL,” Ruby has “ruby-red hair,” and Eula frequently wears bright, floral muumuus. What is the narrative effect of Wiles’s use of vibrant colors? What do they symbolize?

Dove aspires to be an anthropologist like Margaret Mead when she grows up. What qualities does she possess that would make her a successful anthropologist? Use specific evidence from the text to support your response.