Muffins and Mayhem reading guide

1. Do you agree with Suzanne’s belief that clothes can, in a sense, make
the person? Have you ever had a similar experience where your outward appearance
caused an inner metamorphosis?


I have always liked short hair. It always fills me with enthusiasm to exercise and stay fit.

Recently my boss wore better fitting pants and a cool jacket, he looked so much younger than in his sloppy pants.

2.Is adopting some of our parents’ idiosyncrasies inevitable? Why
or why not?

3.Would you consider her unsuccessful
endeavors failures? Why or why not? How do you define failure? Did any of
Suzanne ’s stories make you reconsider the value of some of the failures in your own
life?

4.Have you ever experienced a similar situation? Was it comical like Suzanne’s, or
more embarrassing?

5.When describing her own quirky personality, Suzanne quotes Leonard Cohen’s
“There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” How do you think Suzanne’s
embracing of her individuality and pride in being “a little strange” (page 74)
has affected the way she interacts with others? How can embracing one’s uniqueness
help overcome life ’s obstacles?

6.Do you think her “love the illness” strategy
could help others suffering from chronic conditions? Have you ever experienced a
similar situation? If so, how did you learn to live with your condition?

7.In talking about the meaning of life, Suzanne writes, “I’ve always thought my job,
my purpose here on earth, certainly must be something more dramatic than simply
loving and taking care of the people around me. So I’ve strived to be clever, artistic,
and talented in business. But . . . I realize I’ve been looking at life all wrong. It’s not
complicated, there ’s nothing to prove. My mother was right. It’s really very simple.
What’s really important is love.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

8.Of all the values Suzanne carries, why do you think maintaining a
sense of humor is so important? Are there any special pick-me-up tokens or rituals in
your life that you use to help you through rough patches?

9.How important is tradition
in your family? Did you experience a similar “passing of the torch” when you
became an adult?

10. What does going home mean to you? Has it been an easy journey or, like Suzanne,
have you had to find a way to give yourself the home you never had when you were
growing up?

11.Was she going to accept and acknowledge her writing talent, or let
self-doubt continue to steal it away? The words in an old folk song proclaim, “This
little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Have you been able to freely acknowledge
the talents you’ve been blessed with, or do you hide your light under a bushel?

12.So many of her projects required her to trust her instincts
and take a chance. For example, when she took it upon herself to essentially create
her own job description at Sunny Hill Nursing Home. Have you ever found yourself
in situations where you had an opportunity to take similar chances, and how did you
react? Do you regret your decision?

The conversation with the author of Muffins and Mayhem in the reading guide is interesting.