Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for All Friends Are Necessary by Tomas Moniz

1. Generally, in movies and fiction, adult friendships are seen as less important as we age and enter relationships and begin families. Does this reflect your experience? Why or why not?
2. How would you characterize the different portrayals of friendship in the novel? How do Efren's friendships evolve throughout the book? How have your own friendships evolved throughout your life?
3. From the sexy scene involving spaghetti to the moment of desire that centers on the uvula, discuss the representation of desire in the book.
4. In many ways, the novel is a love letter to the Bay Area. Discuss the book's various settings and how they impact the story and its themes.
5. Part of the book takes place during the pandemic. How does Covid impact the characters throughout the novel? How did it feel to relive that moment in time through fiction?
6. Grief is a key theme in the book. How does Efren move through his grief in the novel? What characters and events do you think played the most central role in Efren's journey through grief?
7. There's a scene in the book where Efren and friends venture out to explore the forgotten literary histories of San Francisco. Discuss the artists and creative history of your own community. Are there people or groups who would benefit from late-night guerrilla graffiti action to get more recognition?
8. Each chapter of the book gets its own title, such as "Like Needle to Record," "Anonymous Armpits and Desire Paths," and "Masks Up, Pants Down." Discuss the tone of the chapter titles. How do they inform your reading of the book?
9. Part Two of the novel is titled "Life Cycle of a Fern." This section marks a formal shift in the book and is composed of mostly prose poems. What do you think about this shift in form and tone? How do ferns function as a symbol throughout the book?
10. The author, Tomas Moniz, loves writing and receiving letters. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone? Discuss the importance or difference of communicating through the act of letter writing. Bonus points: The author challenges you to write to a friend, a parent, or a person who inspires you.

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