Below is a summation of the members' reactions to this work.
The Chaperone is a novel of historic fiction set in both Wichita and New York City during the twentieth century. Moriarty begins the narrative in the middle, after Cora's two twin boys have left home for summer jobs followed by college. Feeling at loose ends, she decides to agree to serve as a chaperone to Louise Brooks, an undisciplined but extremely talented 15-year-old, when Louise goes to New York for the summer to try out for a prestigious dance troupe. Gradually, Moriarty moves back in time to reveal Cora's history as an abandoned child who was sent on an orphan train and then taken in by a couple who lived on a farm outside Wichita. Her story is one of growth through adaptation as she deals with events she cannot control and must make choices that affect not just herself but others she cares about.
When asked if they enjoyed the book, most members said they did but one member responded, "Can't really say that I did." She explained that she found some of the content troublesome. When asked what they first thought of Cora at the start of the narrative most felt she was "mysterious" and "proper." Discussion centered on the various restrictions women dealt with in both their private and public lives and how many of these restrictions are no longer present. The group also noted the many secrets families were forced to keep to avoid being shunned by friends and neighbors for behavior outside of socially accepted limits. Cora's strategy of working around social restrictions while still appearing to conform was contrasted with Louise's constant rebellion. Members agreed that events from each woman's childhood had impacted her behavior and happiness, and there was quite a bit of discussion on what motivates a woman to remain in an unhappy or abusive situation.
