Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Need by Helen Phillips

1. Were you familiar with paleobotany before reading The Need? What role does this field of study play in the story?
2. The imagery in the novel, such as the deer mask, is quite surreal. How does this contribute to the overall mood and themes of the book? What other motifs added to the novel's eerie atmosphere?
3. The novel has been described as a psychological thriller and a fever dream. How does The Need blend elements of multiple genres like sci-fi, horror, and domestic drama? What genre would you use to describe the novel?
4. Do you expect parents and non-parents might have differing experiences of reading the novel? Does The Need challenge any preconceived notions about motherhood and identity?
5. Electric Literature described the novel as "the great American breast pump novel." How does breastfeeding and other physicalities of motherhood play into the novel?
6. How did you feel while reading scenes with Ben and Viv? How do they influence the characters' decision-making processes throughout the novel?
7. How are the ordinary aspects of daily life juxtaposed with the supernatural elements in The Need?
8. How do humor and dark comedy take shape in the story? Discuss specific scenes or memorable moments.
9. The novel explores dualities on many levels, including introducing the possibility of parallel universes. Are you familiar with this concept? Discuss your interpretation of how parallel universes feature in the story.
10. How does the narrative deal with themes of vulnerability and strength, particularly in Molly's character?
11. Consider the following quote: "She and David had a running joke about how they both feared their kids at night the same way that, as children, they'd feared monsters under the bed. Beasts that would rise up from the side of your bed, seize you with sharp nails and demand things of you." How does fear manifest throughout the novel? Are there moments in the novel that frightened you more than others?
12. How does Helen Phillips balance the mundane aspects of motherhood, work environments, and marriage with the intense emotions Molly experiences?
13. What does the ending of the novel imply about the resolution of the story and Molly's future?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Simon & Schuster. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.