Marie Rudisill | Author
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Why do you think that fruitcakes have become topics of humor in today's culture?
2. Do you like fruitcake? If you were to have only one more slice of cake in your lifetime, what would it be?
3. Fruitcake, for many, is a Christmas tradition. Why do you think it has become such? Discuss other holiday traditions that have become synonymous with their respective holidays (not just Christmas). How do these traditions come to be and how are they handed down?
4. Rudisill believes that the best ingredient for a good table decoration is imagination. What do you use for table decorations? Do you change them seasonally? What significance do table decorations have?
5. The kitchen was the most important room in the Faulk household. What is the most important room in your houseold and why?
6. There are mentions of several superstitions in this book. Do you believe in any of these? What superstitions, if any, do you have?
7. Many of the recipients of Sook's fruitcakes became characters in Capote's stories. What makes an individual suitable to write about? Do you know anyone that would make a good character in a story?
8. Both Truman Capote and Marie Rudisill have written books based on childhood memories. Why are memories of childhood so special to us? What makes them so magical? If you were to write a book about yourself, which childhood memories would you choose to include?
9. Sook made out a list of "hankerings" which set out the most important things to do for certain months. What would be on your list of "hankerings" for this month?
10. Marie Rudisill believes that "Christmas without fruitcake would not be Christmas." What part of the holiday could you not do without?