Fresh Water for Flowers

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Were you surprised by the truth behind the young girl’s death? How did it reflect or contrast with your expectations?

2. Who do you think would benefit most from reading this book?

3. How does this novel compare to other works in translation that you’ve encountered (other examples from 2010s literature include Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, Genki Kawamura’s If Cats Disappeared from the World, and Etaf Rum’s A Woman Is No Man). Do you enjoy reading translated works? Do you notice differences in style depending on the text’s original language?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Based on Violette’s experiences, is a cemetery somewhere you would like to live? Why or why not?

2. How do attitudes toward death and the dead presented in the novel compare with attitudes in your own family or culture (or other attitudes that you’re aware of)?

3. Violette and her friend Nono believe that happiness is a choice that anyone can make. Do you agree with this perspective? Why or why not?