Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism, gender discrimination, and sexual content.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Trace the evolution of Sula and Nel’s relationship over time. Did you find their relationship relatable or surprising? What was your reaction to the revelations at the end?

2. Discuss your experience with Morrison’s use of dialect in the book. How did this add to the story and your experience reading it?

3. Was this your first time reading Toni Morrison? If not, how does reading this book compare to your experience reading her other works—e.g., Beloved or The Bluest Eye?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Like Nel and Sula, have you ever had a friendship grow apart because you and the other person took different paths? How did the friendship ending affect you?

2. Which character do you relate to more: Sula in her chosen life of independence and nonconformity or Nel in her embrace of societal expectations?

3. Reflect on the novel’s questioning of rigid binaries, such as labeling things “bad” or “good.