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Browse Inside The Birth House  The Birth House  A Novel
Questions for Discussion    1. How does reading shape Dora's
view of the world? How does her love of books play into her
relationship with her father? With Miss B.? With Archer?    2.
After attending her first birth, Dora observes that, "How a
mother comes to love her child, her caring at all for this thing
that's made her heavy, lopsided and slow, this thing that made
her wish she were dead . . . that's the miracle." What do you
think she meant? Do you feel this is true?    3. Folklore, home
remedies, women's traditions, herbalism, and a belief in the
divine feminine are all part of Miss B.'s way of life. She is
determined to pass these things along to Dora. Does Dora try
hard enough to preserve them? Should she let them go?    4. When
Archer asks Dora to marry him, he tells her that, "love takes
care of herself." She chooses t