I love a good book club or reading group! I’m happy to join you to talk about the Trinity of Bitches series, either in person (if you live in the Boston area) or via Skype. If you’d like me to participate, please reach out by completing the Request Form in the tab below and I’ll be in touch to work out a schedule. (Meanwhile, please review and enjoy the Trinity Of Bitches Reading Guide and Extra Treats.)
Please fill out & submit this Request Form
* Indicates Required Information in the form above
Questions for Book Groups
(Spoiler alert! Some of the questions give away the surprises.)
1. Would you use the Barkolater on your dog? What do you think they’d say?
2. Do you communicate with your pet like Jones and Salle Mae do? How do you know what your pet’s expressing?
3. Vivienne and Mirielin have a close relationship. What makes the sisterly relationship so special? How is it different from other sibling relationships?
4. After Win’s death, Vivienne is shocked to discover her husband had embezzled from their company, and may have a secret family in China. Do you think it’s common for spouses to have secrets? Is that healthy for marriage?
5. Vivienne becomes attracted to Edward just months after her husband’s death. How long do you think the mourning process should take?
6. Lance craves his father’s approval. How has parental approval or disapproval shaped your life? Do we ever get over wanting parental approval?
7. Rampant self-interest is one of the book’s themes. Has our society become too focused on the self? What impact does that have?
8. Do you need to give birth to be a mother? Can you be a mother to an animal?
9. The animal science and cognition examples in the book are taken from scientific research. What surprising things did you learn?
10. How does understanding animal intelligence change your view of animals?
11. What do you think of companies using animals to test their products? Do you boycott company products that use animals for testing?
12. Animals are also used in scientific research, such as the beagle puppies mentioned in the book. How necessary is that kind of research and what are the tradeoffs?
13. Did you adopt your dog from a shelter or buy one from a breeder? Why did you make your choice?
14. Coppelia is friends with other animals, including the cat Dacha. Have you witnessed interspecies friendships that surprised you?
15. Some bioethicists and organizations like PETA think it’s wrong to own pets, believing them enslaved to humans. What’s your opinion?
16. Almost 2/3 of the dogs in the world are feral. Yet many people pamper dogs and treat them like their children. Others use dogs for hunting or livestock management, making them live outdoors. Is there a
proper perspective about how to treat dogs?
17. Vivienne gets to start her life over as a mature adult. If you could start your adult life over, how would you want it to be different?
18. Barton treats Vivienne and Mirielin as sex objects as much as pet-preneurs. Have you had this experience at work and how did you respond?
19. Have you been in a relationship with someone with an addiction? If so, what ‘unbelievable’ things did they do to protect their lifestyle? How did it impact you?
20. Do animals go wherever you think humans do when they die? Do you imagine animals have a spiritual awareness?
21. Why have the Trinity of Bitches come back? What do you think they’ll do?
Enhance Your Book Club Discussion
Vivienne Castle is thrilled to discover that her publicist has arranged for her to borrow an original Chihuly glass sculpture. These are some of Maile’s favorite Chihulys.
Delicious treat for your Book Club
Vivienne Castle and her publicist Jane Pringle eat Grilled Salmon with Tangy Cucumber Sauce while plotting Coppelia’s entree to Hollywood. Here’s the recipe.
Sauce 6 servings (serving size: 6 ounces salmon and 1/3 cup sauce)
Ingredients
1 cup cubed seeded peeled cucumber, plus two more cucumbers peeled and sliced into rounds, 1 1/2 cups sour cream or plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 1 generous teaspoon prepared horseradish, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1 (3-pound) salmon fillet (about 3/4 inch thick) 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Cooking spray, Dill sprigs (optional)
How to Make It
Step 1
Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside cucumber rounds. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir well. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
Step 2
Prepare grill.
Step 3
Sprinkle fish with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Place fish, skin side up, on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes. Rotate fish one quarter-turn (45 degrees) for diamond-shaped crosshatches. Grill 3 minutes. Turn fish over; grill 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with sauce over sliced cucumbers and dill sprigs, if desired. (Credit: Adapted from Bill Jamison and Cheryl Alters Jamison)
Book Club
I love a good book club or reading group! I’m happy to join you to talk about the Trinity of Bitches series, either in person (if you live in the Boston area) or via Skype. If you’d like me to participate, please reach out by completing the Request Form in the tab below and I’ll be in touch to work out a schedule. (Meanwhile, please review and enjoy the Trinity Of Bitches Reading Guide and Extra Treats.)
Please fill out & submit this Request Form
* Indicates Required Information in the form above
Questions for Book Groups
(Spoiler alert! Some of the questions give away the surprises.)
1. Would you use the Barkolater on your dog? What do you think they’d say?
2. Do you communicate with your pet like Jones and Salle Mae do? How do you know what your pet’s expressing?
3. Vivienne and Mirielin have a close relationship. What makes the sisterly relationship so special? How is it different from other sibling relationships?
4. After Win’s death, Vivienne is shocked to discover her husband had embezzled from their company, and may have a secret family in China. Do you think it’s common for spouses to have secrets? Is that healthy for marriage?
5. Vivienne becomes attracted to Edward just months after her husband’s death. How long do you think the mourning process should take?
6. Lance craves his father’s approval. How has parental approval or disapproval shaped your life? Do we ever get over wanting parental approval?
7. Rampant self-interest is one of the book’s themes. Has our society become too focused on the self? What impact does that have?
8. Do you need to give birth to be a mother? Can you be a mother to an animal?
9. The animal science and cognition examples in the book are taken from scientific research. What surprising things did you learn?
10. How does understanding animal intelligence change your view of animals?
11. What do you think of companies using animals to test their products? Do you boycott company products that use animals for testing?
12. Animals are also used in scientific research, such as the beagle puppies mentioned in the book. How necessary is that kind of research and what are the tradeoffs?
13. Did you adopt your dog from a shelter or buy one from a breeder? Why did you make your choice?
14. Coppelia is friends with other animals, including the cat Dacha. Have you witnessed interspecies friendships that surprised you?
15. Some bioethicists and organizations like PETA think it’s wrong to own pets, believing them enslaved to humans. What’s your opinion?
16. Almost 2/3 of the dogs in the world are feral. Yet many people pamper dogs and treat them like their children. Others use dogs for hunting or livestock management, making them live outdoors. Is there a
proper perspective about how to treat dogs?
17. Vivienne gets to start her life over as a mature adult. If you could start your adult life over, how would you want it to be different?
18. Barton treats Vivienne and Mirielin as sex objects as much as pet-preneurs. Have you had this experience at work and how did you respond?
19. Have you been in a relationship with someone with an addiction? If so, what ‘unbelievable’ things did they do to protect their lifestyle? How did it impact you?
20. Do animals go wherever you think humans do when they die? Do you imagine animals have a spiritual awareness?
21. Why have the Trinity of Bitches come back? What do you think they’ll do?
Enhance Your Book Club Discussion
Vivienne Castle is thrilled to discover that her publicist has arranged for her to borrow an original Chihuly glass sculpture. These are some of Maile’s favorite Chihulys.
Delicious treat for your Book Club
Vivienne Castle and her publicist Jane Pringle eat Grilled Salmon with Tangy Cucumber Sauce while plotting Coppelia’s entree to Hollywood. Here’s the recipe.
Sauce 6 servings (serving size: 6 ounces salmon and 1/3 cup sauce)
Ingredients
1 cup cubed seeded peeled cucumber, plus two more cucumbers peeled and sliced into rounds, 1 1/2 cups sour cream or plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons chopped green onions, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, 1 generous teaspoon prepared horseradish, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 1 (3-pound) salmon fillet (about 3/4 inch thick) 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Cooking spray, Dill sprigs (optional)
How to Make It
Step 1
Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside cucumber rounds. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir well. Cover and chill 30 minutes.
Step 2
Prepare grill.
Step 3
Sprinkle fish with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Place fish, skin side up, on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes. Rotate fish one quarter-turn (45 degrees) for diamond-shaped crosshatches. Grill 3 minutes. Turn fish over; grill 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with sauce over sliced cucumbers and dill sprigs, if desired. (Credit: Adapted from Bill Jamison and Cheryl Alters Jamison)
2023 Trinity of Bitches – Maile Hulihan. All Rights Reserved.