Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
Every summer the
extended Setons family gathers at the family homestead in New Hampshire, where
Nan Seton, age seventy, presides over what her children and grandchildren
jokingly call "The Seton New England Boot Camp." The hectic schedule of golf
and tennis and swimming at the club, nature hikes before dinner, and badminton
on the lawn in the waning hours of daylight is disrupted one Memorial Day
weekend when Nan’s son-in-law, Spencer, corrals the family into planting a
garden. An avid animal-rights activist, Spencer envisions tables laden with
fresh fruits and vegetables and a new appreciation on the part of his skeptical
extended family of the virtues of vegetarianism. But a horrible accident in the
garden exposes deeper divides within the family and forces them all to reexamine
their loyalties to one another.
Chris Bohjalian, the author of
Midwives, The Law of Similars, and
Trans-Sister
Radio, possesses a remarkable ability to create moving human dramas that
simultaneously illuminate the complicated reality behind contemporary
controversies.
The San Francisco Chronicle wrote, "[Bohjalian’s] hallmark: Ordinary people in heartbreaking circumstances
behaving with grace and dignity." The Setons are just such a family and as
Before
You Know Kindness unfolds, Bohjalian once again gives us a novel that
engages both our hearts and our minds.
If your reading group would like to schedule a half-an-hour with Chris Bohjalian
via speakerphone or e-mail, please visit his website (
www.chrisbohjalian.com
) and click on the Reading Groups tab.
Questions
- Before You Know Kindness opens with a blunt, clinical description
of Spencer’s injuries. Is the preface a purely objective report or does it
begin to develop some of the general themes of the novel? What does it convey
about the Setons and their way of life?
- Spencer’s speech pp. 16–19 and Nan’s descriptions of his behavior
pp. 27–29 offer varying insights into his personality. Does the tone of the
writing influence your impressions of him? What specific details bring out the
differences between Spencer’s self-perceptions and the way others might view
him?
- How does Bohjalian portray FERAL and the people who work there? Do you
think this is an accurate portrait of the animal-rights movement? What reasons
might Bohjalian have for modifying their attitudes and activities?
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Vintage.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
