How to Read a Book

Content Warning: This section includes a brief mention of sexual assault and child abuse.

An older Violet is reflecting on a time in her earlier life. The narrative skips back to when Violet is 22 years old and is serving a 28-month sentence in a female correctional facility. Every Friday, the women are allowed to attend Book Club, facilitated by a retired English teacher named Harriet, who the women call “Book Lady.” The women are discussing a book called Scar Tissue about a woman who survived a traumatic childhood and became a wealthy, famous surgeon in New York. The women can’t relate to the protagonist as they find her story unrealistic. Harriet encourages them to empathize with the book’s characters and view them as “fellow creatures.” Violet admits that while they don’t always like the books, she enjoys the group discussions sparked by their reading. They also get to keep all their books, and Violet stores them under her bed like treasures.

The women prefer classic novels over contemporary ones, finding the characters more relatable. They especially appreciated Ethan Frome, seeing the protagonist as being punished by some divine force.