Reading Guide for
Bound by Sally Gunning
- Bound explores the different kinds of ties that
bind one person to another. Of the various bonds explored in this novel,
which ones do you feel should have been preserved? Which broken?
- Alice is a person both old and young for her age. In what
ways do you feel she mature and in what ways immature?
- How would you describe Alice's expectations of life? How
do you see these changing through in the course of the book?
- Do you think Alice feels sorry for herself? Why or why
not?
- Alice refers several times to the idea that a man's eyes
are on her. Do you think all men's eyes really are on Alice, or does she
just perceive it to be so?
- In the beginning of the book Nate greatly admires Freeman.
Toward the end he appears to become disillusioned. What do you think causes
this change? How do you think he feels about Freeman at the end?
- Do you feel Mr. Morton deserves Alice's prayers?
- Do agree with Nate's opinion that Freeman would have
surely ended up "touching" Alice? Do you think Nate really believes
this? If he doesn't, why does he say it?
- Discuss what Alice wants/needs from Freeman and whether it
would be possible to achieve.
- Do you think Nate really planned to go to Pownalborough?
- Can you think of reasons Alice hasn't considered that
Lyddie might consider as she debates whether to give up her dower right and
marry Freeman?
- Do you see Lyddie Berry's and Eben Freeman's feelings
toward Alice changing through the course of the novel? If so, how and
why?
The foregoing is excerpted from Bound by Sally Gunning. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
