Tea and Tales with Cate and Allison discussion

Hey book lovers!

I hope you're all enjoying Mosquitoland! I see that quite of you have finished already, and I'm thrilled to see the positive response to this book. Here are some discussion questions for this week's chapters. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

-In this section, Mim meets Walt and Caleb. What do these three characters show us about disability and mental illness? How are their journeys similar or different? What do you think of Arnold's handling of these serious themes and issues?

-Why is Mim's warrior paint so significant to her? What does this say about rituals and how they can affect our confidence and the way we view ourselves?

-On pages 112 and 114, Mim says, "I have the opportunity to deliver [Arlene's] box, to finish what she started, to honor her dear life. I have the chance to complete Arlene's objective. And I'll be damned if I'm not going to finish...All of my favorite movies have one thing in common: a singular moment in which you can feel the director telling his character's story as well as his own. It is beautiful, poignant, and appalling rare. I don't know what's in this box, but I am part of its story, as it is part of mine."

How does Mim view herself in relation to others? How does her view of others help or hinder her journey? Can others be a distraction from her own struggles and fears? Do you agree with her about others' stories becoming our own and vice versa?

-Mim talks about music throughout the book, and she says that the music she listens to "[has] a tragic honesty to it." Why do you think Mim is drawn to this type of music, and what does this say about her as a person? Does music influence your life?

-Mim writes many letters to a person named Isabel about her journey and why it is so important that she reach her mom. Why are these letters significant? What do they show us about the power of writing?

Can't wait to hear all of your thoughts! Remember, commenting and posting questions counts as entries for the giveaway! :)

Not only does Mim have keen sarcasm but she has the most keen memory I've ever known anyone to have. Okay. Let me finish up this book. I had to cook. I'm nearing the end, and it's getting even more interesting.

I'm having a really hard time with this book. I WANT to like Mim but just haven't gotten there yet. With that said, I am very curious about Isabel. I feel like whoever that is (I assume it's Mim's aunt) struggled with the same issues that Mim does. The letters are important because they show us Mim's thoughts when she has the opportunity toneloquently express them. She is probably more honest in hose letters than in her interactions with others, which she probably has to watch and guard herself in.

Lisa, Isabel is Mim's aunt. However, later you'll have a chance to see who...else is is Isabel. I suppose, that's an ok way of putting it.

Great point about Mim's sarcasm, Jalawa! I loved that about her, maybe because I'm a little sarcastic myself. Her snarkiness was a lot of fun. :)

I really like your point about Mim's being able to be more honest in the letters to Isabel, Lisa. That's such a keen observation. You can really sense that Mim feels safe to open up in the letters, and it's interesting to see the difference between her narrative voice in the letters and the rest of the book. Thanks for bringing that up!

I believe her narrative voice in the letters are different because of who she was actually writes the letters to.

bookloversnest wrote: Why is Mim's warrior paint so significant to her? What does this say about rituals and how they can affect our confidence and the way we view ourselves? "

There was the controversy on this online, found here, how a native american would never paint themselves like Mim did. But I belive that Mim did this for the confidence, she added the paint, lipstick, not paint, to feel something that doesnt come naturally to her. The lipstick symbolizes her love for her mother and how much she meant to Mim. Mim feels the Cherokee blood when she applies the lipstick as her dream entails, the one sixteenth of blood which came to her through her mother. She imagines this Cherokee blood coursing through her blood and feels the confidence of a Warrior. Mim feels tough and capable of doing more, to fight.

I personally can relate to this as I do this often too. I have a pentagram necklace which I got while at european summer camp, (BTW european summer camp is nothing like american summercamp, its a lot better), at the camp I was with friends, they were czech as I am. I made connections and found more about myself. I became more confident through going on these summer camps with the same people annually. I got the pentagram necklace on one of the full-day excursions and wear it under my shirt so no one can see it. It reminds me of my friends I barely see, it reminds me of the czech person I am, and I feel like I can rely on satanism when I need it.

While being a satanist sounds bad, the ideas of the Church of Satan isn't that bad. But I am not a satanist.

Many people wear makeup to feel more confident, or a different person too.

So... better late than never?

Mim’s war paint is significant in two ways that I can see, firstly it is her confidence booster and secondly it is in some ways her security blanket, her last physical tie to her mother. I believe we all have these in some capacity. It can be something as seemingly small and insignificant as the right shade of lipstick, wearing matching under garments or repeating a meaningful quote to yourself over and over before a big interview. Anything that helps you to feel empowered, gives you that extra boost prior to whatever challenge you are facing. As far as her security blanket goes I can certainly relate. I find myself constantly reaching for and touching my wedding band in times I feel lonely or troubled, it reminds me that I’m not alone that I share all my burdens with the one person on earth that loves me most and the reminder of that connection always makes me feel stronger.

I think the letters are of great significance, not only do they allow her to share her story with someone important to her. They also give her a space to express herself, to write out the words she may not be able to say aloud or share with others. Her letters help her get through the parts of living that are otherwise painful or unbearable. They also help her feel less alone until she finds her people.

I love Kimberly, your comparison of Mim's war paint to other things like a wedding band. I think it is so true that everyone has that something that helps them get through. I think more than anything, the lipstick was her way of staying close to her mother. I think especially with her father getting re-married and starting a new life, Mim needed something from her old life. I think at this point in the novel, Mim feels as if her mother is the answer and if she can get to her, things will be different.