The Book of Madness and Cures, Regina O'Melveny

The Book of Madness and Cures

By Regina O’Melveny

(Tansley Reads Rating: 41%)

 

Icebreaker

 

Time and again, Gabriella must defend her worth as a female doctor and disguise herself as a man to ensure safe passage on her journey. When in your own life have you experienced prejudice, or been prevented from doing something because of your gender?

 

Questions

 

1.  On pg. 26, Gabriella says to her friend Lavinia, "Lavinia, I want the unknown."  What were Gabriella’s reasons for leaving her home in Venitia for the unknown, especially after waiting ten years for her father?

 

2.  Why does Gabriella’s father leave in the first place, and do you think he ever intended to return home?

                     

3.  Gabriella and her mother have a poor relationship. What do you think are the reasons for this?

 

4.  What role does The Book of Diseases play in the novel? Did including the excerpts from Gabriella’s contribution to “The Book of Diseases” add or detract from your understanding and enjoyment of the story?

 

5.  What is the significance of the medicine chest?

 

6.  In what ways do Gabriella’s companions, Olmina and Lorenzo, guide or hamper her quest?

                     

7.  On pg. 166, Vincenzo says, “We often flirt with the very thing we create….” He goes on to admit that he loves, too much, the beautiful bolts of cloth he sells. Gabriella then realizes she is single-minded to a fault. Was Gabriella journey as single-minded, as she believed?

 

8.  What purpose was served in the story by introducing the character of Wilhelm?

 

9.  Gabriella’s father often told her “the patient owns the remedy.” What do you think he meant?

 

10.  On pg. 234, Gabriella, in discussion with Dr. Joubert, ponders aloud, “When does a wise adventure become a foolish one?” In your experience, what makes an adventure a wise one and what marks its transition to a foolish one?

                     

11.  Lorenzo dies before the end of their journey. Would their journey have been any different if Lorenzo had lived?

 

12.  Gabriella finds her father, but he is unrecognizable as the man who left her years ago.  She tended him very tenderly until his death, but never knew if he had any awareness of who she was.  Do you think this will have any effect on her after his death? 

 

13. On pg. 311 Hamish says to Gabriella, "I'm sorry about the death of your father."  She responds, "Oh! But you know, he left long ago."  In what ways does Gabriella’s father’s death free her?

14. Why does Hamish not approach Gabriella until after she has buried her father in Taradante?

 

15:  Quick round: What did you think of the book? Is there anything you want to discuss that we missed?