Novels which focus on family relationships are popular in group discussion, and many universities offer thematic courses on the family in literature. Discussion would probably focus on the social context of the novel, and the characters' search for autonomy within connectedness. Since Adams creates positive images of older Americans as her central characters, Caroline's Daughters would be an excellent choice for older readers or nontraditional students.

1. How does the relationship between Caroline and Ralph set a moral tone for the novel, and how do their daughters both respond and react to this image?

2. Examine the relationships between the five siblings-—their similarities and differences, their rivalries and commonalities.

3. How does Adams' create an image of the 1980s lifestyle, and what does she suggest about it? Is this image satiric, complacent, or somewhere in between?

4. Sexuality is a major metaphor in the novel—everyone thinks...