In small things forgotten cover

In small things forgotten

by James Deetz

History is recorded in many ways. According to author James Deetz, the past is given new dimensions by studying the small things so often forgotten. Doorways, gravestones, musical instruments, and shards of pottery (objects so plain they would never be displayed in a museum) depict the intricacies of daily life. In this completely revised and expanded edition of In Small Things Forgotten, Deetz has added a chapter addressing the influence of African culture - a culture so strong it survived the Middle Passage and the oppression of slavery - on America in the years following the settler's arrival in Jamestown, Virginia. Simultaneously a study of American life and an explanation of how American life is studied, In Small Things Forgotten colorfully depicts a world hundreds of years in the past through the details of ordinary living.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?