Choosing The First Ladies for your book club will supply your group tough issues to discuss. The First Ladies is the compelling fictionalized biography of two distinct, yet equally powerful and dedicated women who defied gender roles of the time and also defied the racial issues by coming together to fight for equality and women’s rights. The book’s themes include transcending social boundaries, women’s rights and empowerment, and civil rights activism.
Be ready for an in depth discussion using these The First Lady book club questions. In addition to the questions, the guide also features a book synopsis and some selected reviews. Once you’ve read that, at the very end of the guide are some book ideas similar to The First Ladies–if you enjoyed the book or its themes.
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The First Ladies Synopsis
(We always chose to provide the publisher synopsis because we feel that it’s worthwhile to discuss whether the official book description actually squared with your experience of the book.)
The First Ladies, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
The daughter of formerly enslaved parents, Mary McLeod Bethune refuses to back down as white supremacists attempt to thwart her work. She marches on as an activist and an educator, and as her reputation grows she becomes a celebrity, revered by titans of business and recognized by U.S. Presidents. Eleanor Roosevelt herself is awestruck and eager to make her acquaintance. Initially drawn together because of their shared belief in women’s rights and the power of education, Mary and Eleanor become fast friends confiding their secrets, hopes and dreams—and holding each other’s hands through tragedy and triumph.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt is elected president, the two women begin to collaborate more closely, particularly as Eleanor moves toward her own agenda separate from FDR, a consequence of the devastating discovery of her husband’s secret love affair. Eleanor becomes a controversial First Lady for her outspokenness, particularly on civil rights. And when she receives threats because of her strong ties to Mary, it only fuels the women’s desire to fight together for justice and equality.
This is the story of two different, yet equally formidable, passionate, and committed women, and the way in which their singular friendship helped form the foundation for the modern civil rights movement.
10 Book Club Questions for The First Ladies
These questions have been tailored to this book’s specific reading experience, but if you want more ideas, we also have an article with 101 generic book club questions.
- What are the advantages of writing the novel in first person perspective with dual points of view? What are the disadvantages?
- Eleanor and Mary are at odds politically but how do they find common ground?
- “I realize I have a choice. I can let fear and hatemongers and evil words stop me and the good I can do in this world as First Lady. Or I can trust in the safety precautions Earl provides and I can proceed—in this moment and beyond.”
How did Eleanor and Mary influence each other’s lives? What did they learn from each other? How did they help each other achieve their dreams and goals?
- How did Mary and Eleanor’s friendship change over the course of the book? What factors influenced this transformation?
- “One day, you’ll be scrutinized and scorned, and the next, you’ll be celebrated and lauded. Sometimes by the very same people. You will not be able to control the narrative, but you can act according to your conscience, particularly in your personal life. And at the end of the day, that should be the only measure that matters.”
Eleanor faced criticism and societal expectations for her unconventional role as First Lady. How could she balance societal pressures with her personal goals for social reform in a way that both respects tradition yet propels progress?
- Mary changed her political affiliation from Republican to Democrat further her goals in alliance with the Roosevelt administration. What are the potential risks and the benefits of such a strategic move?
- How do the black roses at Bethune-Cookman College symbolize the quest for racial equality and individual worth in the story?
- Given the historical period in which the two women live, how do their efforts to balance traditional gender roles with their ambitions reflect the broader struggle for women’s rights?
- How does education serve as a powerful tool for civil rights activism in Mary’s life?
- How does the theme of women’s rights and female empowerment manifest in the lives of Eleanor and Mary, and what sacrifices do they make to pursue their personal goals?
Selected Reviews of The First Ladies
(Use these selected Goodreads reviews to compare with your own experience of the book. Do you agree or disagree with the reviews?)
“3.5⭐️ (rounded up). Had high hopes for this book. It started off great, kept me interested; wanting to find out more about the relationship/friendship between these two tenacious women. In the end, I felt the storyline to be a bit repetitive & slow in parts, but I am still glad I read this book. I am especially glad to have learned about yet another hero in the fight for racial and gender equality by the name of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune…”
“Abandoned after 8 excruciating chapters. I was excited to read (listen to) this book–have always loved Eleanor and wanted to learn about Mary–but the narrative and the dialog rendered these exceptional women tedious and two-dimensional. The storytelling is plodding and artless and leaves you wondering about absolutely nothing. The exposition is so linear that even if your interest is momentarily piqued, it is immediately satisfied.”
“This is a well-written, entertaining historical fiction novel which is based on actual persons and events. It is thoroughly researched and informative. I was not familiar with the brilliant Mary McLeod Bethune prior to reading this wonderful novel and I am grateful to the authors for telling her fascinating story, and describing her relationship with amazing Eleanor Roosevelt. The authors’ notes are informative and enlightening and are truly appreciated…”
“The topic and storyline of The First Ladies is rich, informative, and a wonderful part of US history that needs to be shared. That said, the dialogue was flat, character development limited, and the writing style overall was stiff. It felt less like a historical fiction novel and more like history told in narrative form. I was engaged in the storyline enough to finish the book, but felt the overall execution fell horribly flat.”
More Book Club Ideas
We’ve got a whole article featuring more books like The First Ladies, which is focused on female friendship, Presidential power, powerful women and civil rights.
The following links go to a reading guide for that particular book. There’s a non-spoiler synopsis on the top of the article with a link to Amazon if you want to check pricing or reviews.
If you like what Benedict did with this book, her book, The Personal Librarian. It’s about JP Morgan’s curator/librarian who bucked societal norms and passed as white at a time when it was very dangerous to do to.
The Diamond Eye Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide. The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn explores the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and a woman who was a deadly sniper during WWII.
And for more on early to mid 20th Century civil rights themes, try The House of Eve or The Revisioners.
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