Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for A Good Man by Ani Katz

1. The first line of the novel is, "The billy club arrived with the first shipment of Christmas presents that year, one package among several stacked on the front porch." Why do you think the author chose to begin the novel this way? What can you learn about Thomas and his life from early descriptions of his house and his routines?
2. Throughout the novel, there are indications that Thomas may not be the man he purports to be. Did you at any point suspect Thomas might be capable of the acts he commits? What clues can you identify that give us insight into how the story will end?
3. We only get Thomas's side of the story, but we learn a lot about Miriam through his eyes, and through her dialogue. Why do you think Miriam fell in love with Thomas, and why has she chosen to remain with him?
4. Thomas's sisters are highly unusual, almost childlike in their arrested state of development. Why do you think they are the way they are? How does their development relate to Thomas's persona?
5. Thomas is an opera buff, and the author threads many operatic references through the text. What effect does this have on the narrative? How did it influence your conception of Thomas's character?
6. Does the story of A Good Man remind you of any real-life stories you've heard? In what way? What are some of the common elements between these similar stories?
7. Is Thomas a good man? Why or why not? What would the definition of "a good man" be, both in your estimation, and in the world of the novel?
8. What does the author's treatment of Thomas's character reveal about traditional notions of masculinity? Did the book make you think about the different roles that men and women play in heteronormative domestic spheres? Do Thomas and Miriam seem to have differing ideas about their own gender roles?

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