Did your book club select Tia William's Seven Days in June for your next book club read? Check out the questions below that led the SoLoveSoul book club in our discussion on topics such as motherhood (specifically mother/daughter relationships), the media's portrayal of the black community, and the true meaning behind the term "soul mates".
SYNOPSIS: Brooklynite Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer, who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning literary author who, to everyone's surprise, shows up in New York. When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their past buried traumas but the eyebrows of New York's Black literati. What no one knows is that twenty years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. Over the next seven days in the middle of a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnect...But before Shane disappears again, there are a few questions she needs answered. Source: Goodreads.com
The following questions were discussed by the SoLoveSoul Book Club. Click the link for more information
1.“The force of teen-girl passion could power nations’…We’re taught that men are all animal impulses. But girls get there first.' 'And then society stomps it out.'” (page 9). What do you think about this quote? Why do you think society stifles girls' passion at a young age but is more likely to accept and even nourish the instinctive impulses in young boys?
2. What is the significance behind the author juxtaposing the mother/daughter relationships between Eva + Audra and Genevieve + Lizette? What does it mean when Lizette tells Genevieve “You’re too clever to be prey"? (page 30)
3. “Publishing companies have a hard time processing Black characters unless we’re suffering?” (page 51). What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think society is more comfortable consuming content where the black characters are struggling or dealing with trauma/oppression rather than portraying them as humans with normal/happy lifestyles? What are some other examples of this in other forms of media (tv/movies)?
4. At the Black Author event, a journalist confronted Shane for writing exclusively from a female’s perspective and asked “Do you feel qualified to speak from a feminist place?” (page 59) What are your thoughts about the way male authors approach the female experience? Do you think that male authors can write authentically about the female's experience and vice versa?
5. What are your overall thoughts about Shane & Eva’s interactions? The awkward lunch? The throwback scene at the mansion? The Dream House Rendezvous? Are they true soul mates or are they just reliving their teenage infatuations? Do you think trauma bonds can lead to a healthy loving relationship?
6. In this section, Audre expresses that she feels stifled and while she loves her mom unconditionally she calls Eva “perfect” & “a robot” but says that Lizette is”a true American success story” & “a feminist icon”. Do you think Audre’s discontent & anxiety are just regular teenage woes or does it stem from the lies that Eva told her about her family’s history? What does this say about Eva’s self-love and self-acceptance?
7. While Shane has built a successful writing career, sobered up, and became a mentor, Eva is still heavily reliant on pain meds (due to her illness), has to compromise her integrity to further her career, and perpetuates a false narrative about her past to Audre. What do you think about Eva’s journey? Do you think Shane abandoning Eva in the past hindered her ability to fully heal all these years later?
8. In the beginning, Lizette tells Genevieve “You’re too clever to be prey” (pg 30) but when Genevieve confronts her about what happened that night with Shane, Lizette responds, “That boy preyed on you” (pg 232) to justify sending him to jail. Why did Lizette change her tone? Do you think Lizette was jealous of Genevieve? What are your thoughts about jealousy and resentment in terms of mother/daughter relationships?
9. “High School relationships aren’t supposed to be meaningful?” (Pg 198)
Do you agree with this quote? What defines when a relationship is "meaningful"? How do our early experiences with relationships shape how we move in our relationships as adults?
10. As we continue to read further into the book, have your opinions changed on whether Eva + Shane and Eva + Audre have a healthy or toxic relationship? If you have changed, what evidence from the book led you there? Do you think these dynamics will lead to a healthy family structure or is this the making of a troubling situation?
11. Which character do you connect with the most? Which ones did you dislike? What do you think about their growth throughout the book?
12. What are your thoughts on the book ending? Did you think it was really over for Shane and Eva? Did you like how they came back together?
13. What are some emotions that you felt while reading this book? What are some of your takeaways/ reflections about the common themes: relationships, mother/daughter dynamics, trauma bonds, etc.
14. Will Packer secured film rights to Seven Days in June and unlike Dani, we know he will cast some great black actors/actresses. Who do you think should be cast for Shane and Eva? Audre? Lizette?
Additional Discussion Worthy Quotes: “The force of teen girl passion could power nations." (9)
“When you’re drowning you’ll do anything to get air.” (92)
“Teenage girls can’t wait to be ruined” (178)
“I stayed alive for you, but you killed me anyway.” (226)
“Daughter always blame moms for the mess they make.” (232)
“Deceased plants are good luck. When a houseplant dies, it’s because it’s absorbed bad energy and juju. Bad juju meant for you. They’re protection.” (231)
“If you listen hard enough, you can tell what a person needs from you. And if you give them what they need, you’ve got a friend for life.” (261)
“Adulthood is a lie, we're all toddlers”. (263)
“Love isn’t safe and obvious. Love is risky.” (283)
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