The Ginger Tree*
by Oswald Wynd
- Do you think that the author, a male, succeeded in writing this novel from the viewpoint of a woman? Did he accurately describe the feelings a woman might have?
- Did you enjoy the epistolary approach that the author used in presenting the story? Why do you think the author chose to tell the story in this manner? In your opinion, would the novel have worked better if the author had chosen to tell the story in the conventional way?
- On page 36, Mary says she was offered three proposals of marriage. What do you think motivated her to pick Richard?
- In reference to page 4, what was your impression of the relationship between Richard and Mary?
- In reference to page 100, did you find it strange that Mary quickly mentioned she was with Richard's child (p. 96), but didn't write about the details of her pregnancy or the birth of her daughter, and instead finally just introduced her baby as Jane?
- Do you think Mary was consciously aware of what she was getting herself into the first time she went to have tea with Kentaro?
- What part, if any, did Mary's relationship with Richard play in her meeting with Kentaro? What was Mary's attraction to Kentaro? On page 277 - Mary still asks herself, "Is this love?". Did she love Kentaro? Did Mary's feelings for Kentaro change throughout the novel?
- What was your opinion of Kentaro at the beginning of the novel? The middle? The end?
- After many years had passed and Mary still hadn't seen her son, Kentaro reappeared in Mary's life. Why, after all those years, would Mary choose to be his lover again? How did that make you feel?
- What was Kentaro's attraction to Mary? Were you surprised, after his first wife died, that he asked Mary to marry him?
- On page 180, did you believe, as Mary was attempting to, that Kentaro was doing what was best for Tomo when he took him from her?
- Do you think Tomo was the only reason Mary stayed in Japan?
- On page 242, Mary stated that if she had to choose anywhere to live, it would probably be China? Did that surprise you? Why China?
- Often, it seemed Mary cared more about Tomo's well-being than Jane's. Did you feel this was so? Did you sympathize with her feelings? On page 218, why did Mary feel that her daughter, Jane, was best to grow up without her?
- How did you feel when Mary turned down Jane's offer to come live with her?
- On page 168, Mary says, “I sometimes wonder if under the disguisees I wear to make myself bearable to me I am really hard and selfish, pursuing what I want and brushing aside anything that is likely to hinder me in achieving this." Do you think Mary was a selfish person?
- On page 285, Mary says "Ginger Tree...remains the stubborn stranger". What does she mean by this? Did you find The Ginger Tree to be a good title for the novel? Why or why not?
- Was Mary's success as a business woman believable, given the time and place of the novel?
- Was the author successful in capturing a sense of place (China and Japan) and imparting it to the reader?
- Who was your favorite male character? Who did you like the least? Did you find them stereotypical characters or did you feel that they were "fleshed out" by the author?
- Looking back, do you think Mary felt the affair with Kentaro had been worth it?
*Questions written by Mount Prospect Public Library Staff
Published 1977
