Brett, Lily: *1946

You Gotta Have Balls, 2006 - Thematic Parallels: Family

Brett, Lily: You Gotta Have Balls, 2006
The novel is heartfelt, humorous yet meaningful about a father and daughter confronting their shared past (including the Holocaust), launching a meatball restaurant, and learning to live boldly in the process.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Angelou, Maya: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 2008, ~370pp
  The novel explores the complexities of family, trauma, and resilience within an African-American family.
  Both novels critically explore immigration, privilege, and the tension between different cultures. Both use parallel storytelling to deepen our understanding of systemic injustice and challenge the reader to rethink notions of responsibility, safety, and humanity.
- Danticat, Edwidge: Breath, Eyes, Memory, 1994, ~230pp
  This work explores the immigrant experience, generational bonds, trauma, and identity, paralleling several emotional and personal growth arcs in "You Gotta Have Balls."
  Both works center on women who must navigate complex emotional landscapes and societal expectations. They emphasize the strength and resilience required for women to reclaim their agency and heal from their past. Both works highlight the importance of family relationships and how these ties can both wound and heal.
- Ng, Celeste: Everything I Never Told You, 2014, ~290pp
  This novel reflects the immigrant, family, and cultural adaptation themes prominent in "You Gotta Have Balls," followed by titles focused on resilience and familial relationships.
  In "Everything I Never Told You," the story revolves around a Chinese-American family coping with the death of a daughter and the hidden pressures on identity and expectations. "You Gotta Have Balls" also deals with family — though with a more humorous or lighthearted tone — focusing on personal growth, challenges, and overcoming fears or doubts within family and self-identity contexts.
- Plath, Sylvia: The Bell Jar, 1963, ~250pp
  This novel is about family pressure, searching for identity, and intergenerational tensions.
  Both novels explore the journey of self-discovery and the complexities of growing up or finding one's place in the world. The protagonists in both stories grapple with their identity, ambitions, and the expectations placed on them. There’s a mix of humor, irony, and poignancy in both stories that balance heavier themes.
List of general discussion questions on Family (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Family (pdf)