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Hardcover ISBN 1-929175-17-5
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FOR DISCUSSION 1. In what ways does Dolly Devereaux's quest for the American Dream benefit her? In what ways does it harm her or her family? 2. A generation gap exists between each generation in a family. Is the gap greater between Dolly and her mother, Anne Doolittle, or between Dolly and her daughter, April? Why? What efforts do the three women make at bridging the gap? 3. Two main conflicts exist in The Redneck Riviera: the struggle of the three generations to keep their family together and the life-or-death struggle to save April from a gang. Which of these two conflicts is stronger? Which conflict reaches its resolution/climax first? Could the other conflict have been resolved first? Why or why not? 4. Why do you believe Dolly adopts a "do as I say, not as I've done" philosophy towards April? 5. What special challenges does Dolly face as a single mother? Is her ex-husband, Kenny, a benefit, detriment, or neutral participant in raising April? 6. Why does April perceive the Correlli gang to be a better family than the one provided by her mother? Why is April unable at first to detect Correlli's selfish motives? What event causes April to see Correlli for who he truly is? 7. Why do you think C.B. Correlli shows interest in preserving April's and Wendy's lives in the chapter entitled "Airtime?" 8. Do the "good" men of the story (Steve Hunt and Henry Doolittle) counter-balance the "bad" (C.B. Correlli and Ron Pawley, among others)? What qualities do the "good" men have that make them "good?" What qualities do the "bad" men have that make them "bad?" 9. What statements does the novel make about how a person chooses his or her mate? What qualities (or balance of qualities) must exist for love to be reciprocal? At what point is Ron Pawley's money not enough for Dolly to endure a relationship with him? Which of Dolly's qualities cause Steve to question whether to pursue a relationship with her? 10. Why do you suppose the women of the story allow themselves to be sexually exploited? Out of two possible reasons, which one seems most prevalent: low self-esteem or financial security? 11. Is there a distinction made in the novel between love and lust? Why do you suppose Dolly often mistakes sex for love? 12. The information on how to manufacture methamphetamines is readily available on the Internet and from government sources. Do you believe there is an appropriate balance between freedom of information and public safety? 13. If you have read Mary's World by Richard N. Côté, what similarities do the protagonists (Mary Pringle in Mary's World and Dolly Devereaux in The Redneck Riviera) have? What are their differences?
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