A Thousand Acres: Summary

A Thousand Acres is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Jane Smiley that deals with themes of family, loyalty, and power. The novel is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear set in the American Midwest. It follows the story of three sisters, Ginny, Rose, and Caroline, who are each trying to come to terms with their father's decision to divide his farm amongst them. In doing so, they must confront their own secrets and grapple with issues of love, jealousy, and betrayal. The novel ultimately explores how power can corrupt relationships between family members, and how loyalty can be tested when faced with difficult decisions.

1. How did the characters' relationships with their parents shape their experiences in the novel?
2. What is the significance of the novel's title?
3. What role does gender play in the story?
4. How does Larry Cook's history of violence contribute to the story?
5. How does Rose Cook's illness affect the events of the novel?
6. What are some of the ways that Rose and Ginny demonstrate their strength and resilience throughout the novel?
7. Discuss Caroline's view of her father, Larry Cook.
8. How does Caroline's relationship with Jess Clark shape her understanding of family dynamics?
9. Analyze the themes of land, ownership and power in A Thousand Acres.
10. Consider how a sense of place contributes to this novel's sense of atmosphere and narrative arc.

• A Thousand Acres is a powerful exploration of how the past shapes family dynamics and relationships.
• The use of imagery in the novel was incredibly vivid and evocative.
• I found the characters to be exceptionally well-developed, with distinct personalities and motivations.
• It was interesting to see how the events of the past had such a profound effect on the present story.
• The book provided an interesting perspective on a family's struggle to come to terms with its history.
• I appreciated the themes of love, loyalty, and sisterhood that are explored throughout the novel.
• The writing style was masterful and captivating, drawing me in from the very first page.
• The ending left me with a lot to think about and ponder long after I finished reading it.
• A Thousand Acres provides valuable insight into human nature and how people cope with tragedy and loss.
• It is an emotionally raw and thought-provoking novel that I highly recommend for readers of all ages.

1. "I guess it's like anything else. You just have to decide what matters most."
2. "There is an ache inside us that nothing else can fill."
3. "It's hard to love something that doesn't love you back."
4. "The only way to keep a secret is not to know it yourself."
5. "You can't turn your back on the past, no matter how much you might want to."

1. A Thousand Acres (1997) - This adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel was directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse and starred Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Jason Robards. It was released in theaters to generally positive reviews. 2. A Thousand Acres (2008) - An adaptation of the same novel was produced for the Hallmark Channel in 2008, starring Keith Carradine, Diane Lane, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. 3. A Thousand Acres (2020) - A new adaptation is currently in production by Apple TV+. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Ginny, Reese Witherspoon as Rose, and Elizabeth Perkins as Caroline.

• Some Luck
• Early Warning
• Private Life
• Good Faith
• Horse Heaven
• Ten Days in the Hills
• The Age of Grief
• The Greenlanders
• Moo
• Ordinary Love and Good Will
• The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton
• Duplicate Keys
• A Year at the Races
• The Last Hundred Years Trilogy (Some Luck, Early Warning, Golden Age