Book Club Discussion Questions
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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
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If You Love It, Let It Kill You. What do you think the "it" in the title refers to? What or whom would you classify as the loves of Hana's life?
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Today, I am restless, Hana texts Jane at the opening of the novel. What's sparking Hana's restlessness? How does this restlessness contribute to the novel's progression?
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What role does Lexington play in the novel? As the novel moves from section to section, how does the setting vary? What differences do you notice in Hana, depending on the setting? Why do you think this is? What about the weather? Did you notice anything strange?
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Much of the novel involves Hana thinking about writing, whether it is her own, her ex-husband's, or her students'. How would you define Hana's relationship to writing? What would you describe as her creative process?
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Despite their proximity, Hana's relationship to her different family members is often fraught. What would you say are the main tensions in Hana's relationships with her parents and siblings? How about the biggest strengths?
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How would you describe Hana's relationship to Bruce? How about Hana's relationship to Bruce's daughter? Which of their interactions do you believe characterize their relationships best?
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"I like you, cat," Hana says to the talking cat. What about the cat does Hana like? What purpose does that cat serve in the story?
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Hana's students vary in demeanor, technology dependency, and writing styles. How do Hana's interactions with her students differ from her interactions with other people in her life? How does seeing Hana in the classroom shape your perception of her as a character?
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The novel opens with a disclaimer: "What follows is pure fantasy." To what extent do you believe this disclaimer? How does knowing the novel is auto fictional play into your understanding of the novel's events? What role do you believe the "gauze of fiction" plays in the narrative?
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"To have become a character in someone else's life: it's a gift, really: Such a gift." Who are the main characters in Hana's life? If you were to write an auto fictional narrative, who from your life would become characters in it?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Henry Holt and Company. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
