If you are stopping by to find questions for your book club, please leave a note for me telling me where you are from!
Welcome to the online book club for
The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin.
I thought I was reading a fiction book until I got to the end of the book and read about how the author discovered writings about a Mrs. Tom Thumb performing for P.T. Barnum. I thought it was a very interesting book before that and now I think it’s even better that there really was such a person. I think the author really tried to see the world from the view of a 2-foot-tall woman trying to be as independent as she could be and see the world. I hope you enjoyed reading it – come discuss it with me!
You can discuss the questions in the comments section below on the blog or join us on Facebook.
Thanks for joining us!
November’s book will be The Radium Girls by Kate Moore with discussion on November 29. More details are on the Online Book Club page.
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Did you know the book was historical fiction before you started reading it? If not, did your opinion of the book change once you discovered it was historical fiction?
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Do you sympathize at all with Vinnie or do you feel her unhappiness is her own fault for keeping her heart closed off?
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Do you place any of the blame for Minnie’s fate on Vinnie? On P.T. Barnum?
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Who is your favorite character in the book and why? Least favorite and why?
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If you had been in Vinnie’s shoes, would you have been content being at home and being a teacher your whole life or would you feel the world calling?
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Why do you think Vinnie kept everyone but Minnie far away from her heart?
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Vinnie never wanted to rely on others, yet two of the most pivotal events – the fire and the attack by Col. Wood – had her being saved by others. How does a sense of helplessness affect people?
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Does the book change the way you view circus acts?
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What is your impression of Charles “Tom Thumb?” Do you agree with Vinnie that he mimics those he is around?
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What is a question I didn’t ask that you would like to discuss?
Thank you for reading with us and stopping by to discuss The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin!
Join us in November to discuss The Radium Girls by Kate Moore!
