Jacqueline
Kelly was born in New Zealand and moved with her parents to western
Canada at an early age. She grew up in the dense rain forests
of Vancouver Island, so you can imagine her shock some years later
when her family moved to the desert of El Paso, Texas. She attended
university in El Paso and medical school in Galveston (lovingly
known as “Galvatraz” among the inmates). She practiced
medicine for many years and then attended the University of Texas
School of Law. She practiced law for several more years before
realizing that what would really make her happy is to write fiction.
Her first published short story appeared in 2001 in the Mississippi
Review (one of her proudest accomplishments). Her debut novel,
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, was released by Henry Holt on
May 12, 2009 (another one of her proudest accomplishments).
"Like" Calpurnia
Tate on Facebook
From jacquelinekelly.com
1. The author uses quotes from Darwin's The Origin of Species to introduce each chapter. What purpose do these introductions serve? Do you find that the quote Kelly uses for the first chapter is relevant to Calpurnia's excitement about nature? How do you think Darwin's quote, "When a young naturalist commences the study of a group of organisms quite unknown to him, he is at first much perplexed to determine the differences to consider…" relates to Calpurnia?
2. The first time Calpurnia and Granddaddy go to the riverbank together, Calpurnia learns that she shares her name with "Pliny the Younger's fourth wife, the one he married for love. … There's also the natal acacia tree, genus Calpurnia, a useful laburnum mainly confined to the African continent. Then there's Julius Caesar's wife, mentioned in Shakespeare." Do you think the name "Calpurnia" suits this character? Why or why not?
3. Much of the book's action is set in the heat of the summer. How might the weather affect the characters?
4. This novel is set in 1899. We learn a lot about Granddaddy through his war stories, but he never mentions the name or purpose of the war. Which war did he fight in? How do you think Granddaddy's experiences in that war affect his relationship with Viola? Do you find their relationship to be unusual for that time? How does Viola fit into the Tate family?
5. Calpurnia is the only daughter of six sons. She is expected to learn cooking, sewing, knitting and other domestic skills to be a good wife and mother. In chapter 8, Granddaddy and Calpurnia examine a fuzzy, probably poisonous, caterpillar. When Calpurnia questions the "sting" of the caterpillar, Granddaddy replies, "I suppose you could touch him and find out. Which raises an interesting point: How far are you willing to go in the name of science?" How does this question relate to Calpurnia's struggle with her mother about a woman's role in the household?
6. Throughout the novel, Calpurnia is always claiming Granddaddy and Harry as "mine" and she is always nervous when other people come become between her and them. Why does she react this way?
7. Viola calls Calpurnia "Miz" for the first time as she instructs her to mix the ingredients to make apple pie. As Calpurnia is introduced more and more into womanhood by her mother and other women in her life, how do you think her relationship with Viola changes?
8. After trying his latest Pecan alcohol experiment and claiming it to be unsuccessful, Granddaddy says, "The day the experiment succeeds is the day the experiment ends. And I inevitably find that the sadness of the ending outweighs the celebration of success." How does this comment relate to Granddaddy's reaction upon receiving the letter from the Smithsonian?
9. The year 1900 begins with a rare snow storm. What does this symbolize for Calpurnia and her family? Do you think that Calpurnia will continue her observations in science or do you think she is going to become the woman her mother wants and expects her to be?
Reproduced with permission from Macmillan