Printable Book Club Questions for Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

Let’s first discuss the title. Why do you think the author decided to use Valentine as the title?
The beginning starts off with Gloria escaping Dale Strickland, who brutally raped and beat her. Let’s talk about the opening scene.
Why it is important for Gloria to now go by Glory?
Glory escapes Dale and arrives to Mary Rose’s ranch completely brutalized and weak. Mary Rose lets her in and does her best to protect her from Dale. There’s a scene where she gets her gun and points it at Dale. Do you think she would have shot Dale if the police and ambulance hadn’t come by?
Mary Rose wrestles with a lot after that fateful day. She often remarks that she should have done more for Glory. Which areas do you think she felt like she failed her?
We read Glory’s perspective in the first chapter, once in the middle and then at the end. Why do you think the author didn’t include more of her viewpoint? Do you think that was an oversight? Did it impact the story for you?
We meet Corrine, an older woman who has become an alcoholic after her husband passed away. What did you think about Corrine? Let’s talk about her relationship with Potter.
On page 39, Corrine is at the bar and listening to the men complaining. “Talking shit, Corrine mused, same as any other group of men anywhere on the planet. She figured she could parachute into Antarctica in the dead of the night, and she’d find three or four men sitting around a fire, filling each other’s heads with bullshit, fighting over who got to hold the fire poker.” This is a great quote—let’s talk about it.
Many people in the town have an opinion of Glory—with a majority blaming her for what happened. And oftentimes, race was brought into the discussion. Mary Rose and Corrine face the reality that the townspeople might have had a different reaction if Glory was white. Let’s talk about racism in this story.
All the women are treated pretty badly across the board. Still, there are some women siding with the men no matter what. So there’s plenty of racism and sexism in this story that is set in the ’70s. If this story was set in the present, do you think much would have changed or would the same attitudes still prevail?
What do you think was the bigger message the author was trying to say about race, sex and class?
The courtroom scene with Mary Rose is pretty frustrating and clearly not a fair trial. Let’s discuss Mary Rose’s day in court. Do you think it would have made any difference if Glory would have shown up or do you think everyone’s mind was made up?
Dale gets off with probation and a simple fine, which enrages Mary Rose and Corrine. Let’s discuss this. Were you surprised by the verdict?
What did you think about Debra Ann helping Jessie? Why did her mom Ginny leave the family?
The expectations for women in this small town is that they get married and have children and that’s it. But Mary Rose, Ginny and Corrine aspire for more. Let’s talk about this.
For those who are from small towns, did you see any similarities between your town and Odessa?
The climax of the story happens when Mary Rose and Corrine think Jesse is kidnapping Debra Ann, which we know isn’t the case. But Mary Rose is so upset that she can’t see straight and wants to shoot him as revenge for what happened to Glory. Corrine eventually talks her out of it. Let’s discuss the scene.
So Dale eventually gets what’s coming to him when he harasses a waitress and she retaliate by running him over and severally hurting him. Do you feel that was some type of justice served or was it not enough?
Glory and her uncle leave the states to join her mother in Mexico. Let’s discuss the ending.