Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Neruda on the Park by Cleyvis Natera

1. Which character did you relate to the most, and why?
2. How are Luz and Eusebia similar? How are they different?
3. Eusebia says: "The world is a harsh place. Why do you think only Dominican people live here? We stay close to each other not just to belong, but to be safe." Discuss the role of community in Northar Park and the novel.
4. Luz reflects that "home [... ] could be a place, a person, a feeling; at times, a profession, the end result of a long pursuit. A fluid thing, for sure, but precious." Do you agree? What does home mean to you?
5. There are many important themes in Neruda on the Park: family dynamics, friendship, romance, community and belonging, gentrification, to name just a few. Discuss some of themes that you thought about most while reading the novel.
6. Beyond the mother-daughter dynamic, women's relationships play a central role in the narrative. Consider Luz's relationship with Angelica and Raenna, as well as Eusebia's relationship with Cuca and the Tongues. How do these relationships fortify and challenge the main characters? Discuss how your own relationships with mentors and friends have nourished and challenged you.
7. Many of the female characters in Neruda on the Park feel pressure to conform to what Luz considers an impossible standard of beauty. How do you see the standard of beauty changing? What else can people do to challenge existing standards of beauty?
8. Hudson plays a key role in both Luz and Eusebia's story. Did you think Hudson could have been Luz's happily ever after? Why or why not?
9. What did you think of Eusebia's plot to save Northar Park? Were you surprised by how events unfolded? Where would you have stopped on the list?
10. Vladimir is a loving husband and supportive father, but would you say he deceived Eusebia or do you believe his motives were more love-inspired than his own, possibly selfish, desires?
11. How did you feel once reaching the end of the novel? Do you wish anything had ended differently?
12. Talk about the novel's structure. Why do you think the author chose to separate the novel into Part I (Demolition), Part II (Excavation), and Part III (Grounding)? How did these sections influence the experience of reading this story?
13. In what ways will Neruda in the Park leave a lasting impact on you?

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