Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Haunting of Moscow House by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore

1. How did the author meld elements of gothic horror, folklore, and real history in this book?
2. What does Moscow House represent? How does the setting shape the story?
3. In the beginning of the novel, Irina and Lili decide to secretly get jobs with the American Relief Administration. Given their controlling aunt, their Bolshevik landlords, and the danger of working for Americans, would you have done the same? Why or why not?
4. Do you believe that the past never dies? Why or why not?
5. How does sisterhood grow and change for Irina and Lili throughout the course of the novel? Conversely, how does each of the sisters come of age individually? Which sister did you identify with more?
6. How might the sisters' struggles reflect the political and social climate in 1920s postrevolutionary Moscow?
7. Who was your favorite secondary character, and why?
8. What did you think of Aunt Marie and her decisions throughout the novel? Is she a villain, deeply misunderstood, or just a victim of circumstance?
9. Did you feel the characters got closure in the end? Why or why not?

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