Prodigal Summer

When Deanna Wolfe first meets Eddie Bondo, she thinks of him as her “prey,” but then considers that “predator was a strong presumption” (5). Describe how the pair’s predator-prey relationship progresses throughout the novel. When does Deanna act as the predator, and when does Eddie do so? How does their relationship reflect the novel’s larger themes and concerns?

In the opening of Prodigal Summer, Lusa Landowski regrets both her choice to marry Cole Widener and her new life on the Widener farm. How does Lusa’s viewpoint change as the novel progresses? How does Lusa’s approach to farm life compare to that of other characters in the novel?

Neighbors Nannie Rawley and Garnett Walker exchange a series of letters debating man’s role in the natural world. Describe their respective viewpoints and how they develop throughout the novel. Does the author favor one point of view over the other? If so, how does Kingsolver do so?

Prodigal Summer is full of small connections between characters: Deanna and Garnett both love the same hollowed-out chestnut log, Lusa and Deanna both admire luna moths, and Deanna’s cabin was built by Garnett’s family. Describe some of these connections in detail. Why did the author choose to introduce these small intersections throughout the novel? How do these moments illuminate the larger themes of the book?

Deanna Wolfe, Lusa Landowski, and Nannie Rawley are untraditional women living in a very traditional community. Describe how these women interact with the larger community, the challenges they face, and the support they receive. 

Kingsolver names all of her chapters after major symbols in the novel—predators, moths, and chestnuts. Choose one of these symbols and examine its role in the novel. How does this symbol illuminate plot, character, and theme throughout the book?

Choose one character in Prodigal Summer—either a major character, like Deanna Wolfe, or a secondary character, like Eddie Bondo—and explore his or her relationship with nature throughout the novel. How does this character view and interact with nature? How do their actions impact both their own character arc, and the novel as a whole? How does their viewpoint relate to the larger themes of the novel?

Prodigal Summer begins with a fertile spring, progresses to the “prodigal summer” of the novel’s title, and ends as fall approaches. Discuss the progression of the seasons in the novel. How do the seasonal changes affect the main characters and the plotline? How do these changes illuminate the themes of the novel?