Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for These Women by Ivy Pochoda

1. Ivy Pochoda tells her story through a series on interlocking novellas. Why might she have chosen such a structure? What was your experience reading These Women? Would you have preferred to have a straight forward, or single, point of view?
2. Take time to describe each of the women, and talk about their strengths, flaws, and how all of them are connected.
3. Of the five women--Dorian, Julianna, Essie, Marella, and Anneke—is there one who generates more sympathy than others?
4. Anneke insists on the maintenance order: "Preserve order and order will be reflected in you." How does Anneke follow that motto in her life. First of all, what does she mean? Do you agree with her? What about the other women? And you: how do you see the need for order in your life?
5. Underlying the narrative is a cultural sense that the women deserve what they get—their deaths are "irrelevant." Essie's precinct even goes so far as to suggest that the killer is a "dissatisfied" customer. How do you answer the insidious belief that their way of life makes them less worthy.
6. Were you surprised at the identity of the killer?

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