Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Lonely Crowds by Stephanie Wambugu

1. Does Maria's family history impact how others view her? How does it impact her relationships with others?
2. Ruth spends her life chasing Maria, in one way or another. When Ruth decides to take her paintings seriously as an adult, she claims it is because she's afraid of being left behind by Maria. How is this decision a breaking free from Maria, and how is it a continuation of their patterns?
3. When Maria and Sheila begin spending more time together, Ruth thinks Maria is riding Sheila's coattails. Is this hypocritical of Ruth? In what ways does Sheila's relationship with Maria differ from Ruth's relationship with Maria?
4. How would you describe Ruth and Maria's relationship over the decades? How do these feelings evolve throughout the book?
5. Ed becomes important to Ruth quickly over time. Why does this relationship feel important to Ruth?
6. Ruth has mixed feelings at Maria's gallery show after seeing a young version of herself. Why do you think Maria uses the video of Ruth and why doesn't she ask Ruth?
7. Maria claims that the quintessential question of Ruth's life is "How would that look?" Do you agree with Maria? What other driving forces are there in Ruth's life?
8. After finally meeting her father, Maria claims that there wasn't space in her life for both her father and herself. How does her father's presence threaten her vision of herself? Does Maria ever make space for other people?

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