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Book Title: Cover Girls
by T.D. Jakes
Reading Guide Questions
The following list of questions is designed to enhance a group or individual's
thinking about or discussing some of the issues we hope you will consider after reading this book. This is designed as a starting point only and is not meant to limit the discussion.
- Have you ever known a woman like Michelle, who made clear "no one was going to control her or ever hurt her again"? Have you felt like Michelle yourself? What kinds of defense mechanisms do emotionally scarred women create?
- Michelle's earthly "savior" is Miz Ida. Do you know someone who is "full of God in the world"? Ho can you tell this about her or him?
- Has anger been a powerful force in your life? How did/do you handle it? How would you answer the question Miz Ida asked Michelle: "Do you want anger to be the end of your story?" Why?
- Do you think "holy people" like Tonya are "out to make...life so miserable"? How do they do or not do this? How do you try to avoid doing this yourself?
- Are you waiting, like Tonya, "for [your] change to come, waiting for [your] time to shine"? What are you hoping for? Have you waited so long that maybe you've given up? Can you feel a flicker of faith for a "brighter day"?
- How did you respond to the "bun is dead" song? Did it cause you to reflect onn ways your own appearance has become outdated and stale? Will you do something about it? What might happen if you do?
- Delores Judson used professionalism to shield her from real emotions--and real friends. What harm did this do to her? To those around her?
- If you had to face Delores's nightmare--someone in your family suffered an unwanted pregnancy caused by circumstances out of her control--how would you handle it? Would you believe the victum, even if what she said scared and angered you?
- How might Delores have convinced Carl to stay? Would you have tried, or do you agree with Delores's assertion that Claudia's pregnancy was not their responsibility?
- Delores is a complex character. She can't seem to love and respect her husband, but she offers unconditional love to her wayward son. Have you ever sacrificed one relationship for another? Was it worth it?
- Michelle admits, "I've always been somebody's hurt. I've never been anybody's help before." How do you feel when you help someone? Honestly, which do you do most: hurt or help?
- Miz Ida underscores the fact that age has no effect on a person's spiritual power or influence. No matter how old you are, do you believe you cannot outlive your usefulness? What do you think of women like Miz Ida?
- Do you agree with Michelle's conviction that "women deciding which man they want by what kind of car he drives rather than looking at how big his heart is are just missing the boat"? How much should a man's financial success play into a woman's decision to date/marry him? Why?
- When you've finished the book, do you have hope for Delores--that she will ever find peace in the Lord, reconnect with her husband and granddaughter, tear down her walls?
- Are you, in any way, a "cover girl": a woman "who want[s] to conceal what God wants to heal"? Whose example in the book can you follow to begin changing this about yourself?
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