A Woman's Story

Ernaux attempts to view her mother’s story in a purely objective context in order “to capture the real woman, the one who existed independently from me . . .” (12) What technique does she use stylistically to accomplish this?

Ernaux writes, “I would recognize that tone of conversation between a mother and her daughter anywhere in the world.” (64) What are the universal signs of a mother-daughter relationship you find throughout the book? And in your own life?

What are some of the idealized misconceptions children have of their parents, sometimes well past the age of childhood? Find examples from the book as well as from personal experience. How does Ernaux react when these illusions are broken?

After her mother’s funeral, Ernaux writes, “Everything was definitely over.” (8) What is over? What now begins? Similarly, what does Ernaux mean when she writes, “Now everything is one”? (87