Mother Mary Comes to Me

Consider the author’s non-traditional path towards becoming a writer. How does the memoir reflect the importance of writing and storytelling more generally, on both a personal and societal level?

Consider the author’s non-traditional path towards becoming a writer. How does the memoir reflect the importance of writing and storytelling more generally, on both a personal and societal level?

While Mother Mary Comes to Me is a memoir, Arundhati Roy seeks to employ various literary and narrative techniques in an attempt to keep the reader’s interest and to illustrate her key themes. What are some literary techniques she uses? What are the effects of them in shaping her narrative and/or self-presentation?

Compare and contrast Mother Mary Comes to Me with another memoir about an abusive mother, such as I’m Glad My Mom Died (2022) by Jennette McCurdy or Maya Angelou’s Mom & Me & Mom (2013). How are the memoirs different or similar in terms of their key themes and ideas? How do these different authors cope with the legacy of abusive parenting?

How does class shape Arundhati Roy’s childhood and adult life? How does she address issues of class and privilege throughout her memoir, and what does she suggest about the nature of class hierarchies and oppression?

Discuss Arundhati Roy’s romantic relationships. How does she characterize figures like JC and Pradip? How does she explore the challenges of romance for a woman seeking to defy traditional roles more generally?

Analyze the motif of forgiveness in the memoir. What does Mother Mary Comes to Me suggest about the benefits and limitations of forgiveness?

Discuss Mother Mary Comes To Me’s depiction of faith, from Arundhati’s Syrian Christian upbringing to the tensions between Hindus and Muslims. How does Arundhati wrestle with the issues of faith and religion’s role, for better and worse, in Indian communities?