What are good book club discussion questions for Hollow Bones?

Spoiler-free questions to get the conversation going: Molly plans for storms and emergencies for a living. What is your own small comfort ritual when life feels stormy, like a favorite blanket, a recipe or a phone call to someone?; Where did you read most of this book, and was there a moment when you had to close it, take a breath, or grab a tissue before going on?; Molly was raised by a father and stepmother who could not have loved her more. Who is someone in your life who mothered you without having to, and how did reading this bring them to mind?; Molly grew up with a quiet dread of disasters. Did any part of her need to be prepared feel familiar to you, and what helps you feel safe enough to let your guard down?; The book asks how we tell ourselves the stories of our lives. Is there a family story you grew up hearing that you now see a little differently, and how does that feel?.

What food and drinks should I serve at a Hollow Bones book club?

Food: Rhode Island Clam Chowder in Mugs, Warm Johnnycakes with Maple Butter, and Pantry Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream. Drinks: Hot Coffee Milk, Mulled Apple Cider, and Fireside Irish Coffee.

Cozy night

Hollow BonesBook club questions, food & host guide

Jodi Picoult

A cozy book club night for Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.

Warm-hearted clubs that like a good cry, a long talk and a second helping

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Jodi Picoult follows a woman who lost her mother on September 11 and grew up to plan for disasters for a living. It's a moving pick for an evening about love, loss and the families that hold us together.

Why it works for clubs

Everyone has felt the tension between wanting to feel safe and needing to live freely
The mother-daughter bonds, both birth and chosen, bring out warm, personal stories
The move between past and present lets readers share how their own family stories have changed over time
Picoult's emotional storytelling gets people talking without anyone needing to analyze the book

Themes & mood

Tender Family Love Grief and Healing Chosen Mothers Quiet Hope

Reading level

Moderate

Pages

464

Warm-up questions

1 Molly plans for storms and emergencies for a living. What is your own small comfort ritual when life feels stormy, like a favorite blanket, a recipe or a phone call to someone?
2 Where did you read most of this book, and was there a moment when you had to close it, take a breath, or grab a tissue before going on?

Digging in

1 Molly was raised by a father and stepmother who could not have loved her more. Who is someone in your life who mothered you without having to, and how did reading this bring them to mind?
2 Molly grew up with a quiet dread of disasters. Did any part of her need to be prepared feel familiar to you, and what helps you feel safe enough to let your guard down?
3 The book asks how we tell ourselves the stories of our lives. Is there a family story you grew up hearing that you now see a little differently, and how does that feel?
4 Many of us remember exactly where we were on September 11, 2001, and some of us were too young to remember. How did reading this story feel alongside your own memories of that day, or the lack of them?

Going deep

1 Without giving anything away to anyone still reading, which moment in the book moved you the most, and what do you think it said about how love can survive loss?
2 By the end, how did your feelings about the idea of being prepared change? Do you think love is something we can ever truly plan for, and did the book leave you feeling more comforted or more unsettled?

On the table

Rhode Island Clam Chowder in Mugs

This clear-broth chowder is a nod to Molly's Rhode Island home. Served in mugs, it's easy to cradle on the couch, and you can make it a day ahead.

Warm Johnnycakes with Maple Butter

These cornmeal griddle cakes are a classic Rhode Island comfort food, as homey as a family kitchen. Make them before guests arrive and keep them warm in a low oven.

Pantry Apple Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream

Most of what it takes is already in your pantry, a gentle nod to Molly's love of being prepared. It makes the whole house smell like being looked after.

To sip

Hot Coffee Milk No alcohol

Coffee milk is Rhode Island's official state drink. Stir coffee syrup into steamed milk for a sweet, nostalgic mug that tastes like childhood.

Mulled Apple Cider No alcohol

A slow cooker of cider with cinnamon and cloves keeps the room warm and fragrant all evening.

Fireside Irish Coffee

A warm, grown-up nightcap with a nod to the Fitzgerald family name. Top with softly whipped cream.

Soft, hopeful acoustic songs about home, shelter and the people who carry us through

Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.

You're invited

Come In from the Storm

Bring your copy of Hollow Bones and your coziest socks for an evening of chowder, warm mugs and heartfelt conversation. We've prepared for everything except how much we'll feel.

Trivia

1

Which state is Molly's workplace, the Department for Emergency Preparedness, located in?

Answer: Rhode Island
2

What is Rhode Island's official state drink?

Answer: Coffee milk
3

How old was Molly on September 11, 2001?

Answer: Two months old
4

Which Jodi Picoult novel about two sisters was made into a 2009 film starring Cameron Diaz?

Answer: My Sister's Keeper
5

Which university did Jodi Picoult attend for her undergraduate creative writing studies?

Answer: Princeton University
6

Which Picoult novel, co-written with Jennifer Finney Boylan, was published in 2022?

Answer: Mad Honey
7

The title Hollow Bones brings to mind a feature of which animals, whose light bones help them fly?

Answer: Birds
8

By area, where does Rhode Island rank among the 50 US states?

Answer: It is the smallest