Book Club Discussion Questions
The author, Amanda Churchill, has spoken about how this book was inspired by stories she heard from her grandmother. How has your family shared stories across generations?
The book is told in two timelines--one showing the events of Mineko's life and the other showing how her granddaughter learns her stories and grows from them. Why do you think the author chose to include both timelines? What does Lia learn from recording her grandmother's life?
Turtles have special significance in the book. What do you think they represent beyond the plot here? Why do you think the house is named after turtles, in particular?
Lia experiences sexual harassment at school and ultimately feels she needs to return home. How does her relationship with her grandmother shape her choice to return?
Mineko has a very complicated relationship with her mother and her sister. How does that early family story shape the way she perceives herself and her journey through the war?
The novel is partially set during World War II in Japan. What did you learn from reading this perspective on the war? And how do you think that experience shaped Mineko's perspective on Texas after her move?
The town of Curtain is small and somewhat isolated. Sometimes smaller towns are places of great love and affection and sometimes they are seen as stifling. How do you feel Curtain affected Mineko’s post-war experience? How do you think living in Curtain altered the lives of Paulie and Mae?
Homesickness is a word that is repeated many times throughout the novel. How does this concept play into the lives of Mineko and Lia or even Paulie and Mae? How does each character feel homesick in differing ways?
Architecture, especially the thoughtful planning of living space, is Lia’s obsessions. How does her career choice make sense considering her family history, even though this history was hidden from her for many years?
Lia loved living in Austin during her college years. Have you ever experienced the excitement of a new town? Do you feel that Lia will eventually return to Austin and make a new life there? Why or why not?
How do you foresee the final years for Mineko? Do you feel that some of the trauma of her life experiences has been healed by the end of the novel?
The Turtle House features two women in very different times of their lives, but with distinct similarities. How do you think the experience of being a woman has changed over the last fifty years? How has it remained the same?