One of life’s greatest joys is discussing books with friends. To that end, please enjoy these discussion questions for Curses, Diamonds, & Toads. Light spoilers ahead so read carefully.
Discussion Questions
- In traditional versions of the fairy tale “Diamonds and Toads” one sister is blessed to have diamonds fall from her mouth and one sister is cursed to have snakes and toads fall from hers. Do you agree with Amy that both these outcomes are curses? Why or why not? If you had a choice between Violet’s curse and Astrid Lucia’s curse, which would you choose?
- Gertrude tells Astrid Lucia, “Marriage is not a union of bits and pieces, but of whole selves.” Astrid Lucia insists, “Marriage [is] what any two people need it to be.” Who is right and why?
- What would Astrid Lucia’s life look like if she never crossed paths with Violet at the Yule Market? How would her marriage to Bernard have been impacted? Are happily-ever-afters possible without confronting our curses?
- Astrid is nonverbal by choice for much of this story. What are the powers of silence? What are the limits? Similarly, what are the powers and limits of speech?
- Astrid Lucia knows that confronting her mother will come with terrible consequences, but she does it anyway. Why? Who is brave in this story and who is just being a descent person?
- One of the reasons Amy loves fairy tales is that they ask us if our values our circumstantial. We prize beauty, except when we fear it in wicked queens with magic mirrors. We rally behind honesty, except when trickery is needed to save the day and turn a poor master into a marquis. Loyalty is important, just not when blue beards are in the mix. In Curses, Diamonds, & Toads Astrid Lucia’s pragmatism (something that Amy deeply values IRL) turns into a vice that would have her settling short of a happily-ever-after. What values in your life could become a vice in certain circumstances?
- Amy chose to write this story in a tight first person point of view. Why do you think that is? What are the powers and limits of this narrative style?
- Amy is fond of traveling, and many of the sources of inspiration for this story happened on trips abroad. As fun as it is to explore new places and meet new friends, one of the most valuable aspects of travel is that you get to rediscover how wonderful home can be when you return. Home means different things to all of us, but we can all agree that home can be the absolute best place on earth. Yet the care and labor that goes into making a home isn’t valued in our society the same way as other professional labor. Why do you think that is? And do you agree with Astrid Lucia that home is, “Too precious for carelessness?”
- The question of what is magic is at the heart of all of Amy’s fairy tale retellings. Astrid Lucia believes, “Magic [is] persistence mixed with skill and passion and something too slippery to chase.” Do you think her definition of magic has changed by the end of the book? Why or why not? What do you believe magic is?
- Amy had a lot of fun with the characters in this story, but Bernard is her favorite because he’s based loosely on Mr. Trent (who is not a potter but can lose track of time and everything else when he is hard at work). Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
If you haven’t yet read Curses, Diamonds, & Toads, you can do so now for free by signing up for Amy’s monthly newsletter. And if you have read Curses, Diamonds, & Toads, thank you! Please consider rating and/or reviewing.
Photo credit: Pink geraniums from a window box in Bruges, Belgium taken by Amy. Do you think Astrid Lucia was here?