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Book Jacket

Cruel Beautiful World

Cruel Beautiful World examines the intricate, infinitesimal distance between ...

Summary and Reviews
Excerpt
Reading Guide
Author Biography

Discuss Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt

Which of the families in Cruel Beautiful World seem to be the most successful, and why? What do you think Leavitt is saying about the nature and importance of family?

5

Aug. 27, 2017
by jeannew

Leavitt has said that she likes stories where nothing is neatly tied up. Did you find the ending satisfying? What do you imagine will happen next in the lives of these characters? What questions for you were unanswered?

13

Aug. 27, 2017
by lisar

How does the time period lend itself to the story? If the story were set in contemporary times, how do you think it would it differ?

18

Aug. 27, 2017
by jeannew

Do you think the novel is more effective told from the individual points of view. How would it have been different if told by an omniscient narrator?

17

Aug. 27, 2017
by lisar

How do you think Charlotte might reinvent herself if she no feels responsible for needing to "rescue" Lucy?

9

Aug. 27, 2017
by lisar

What about the novel feels personal to you?

11

Aug. 27, 2017
by lisar

Overall, what do you think of Cruel Beautiful World?

31

Aug. 27, 2017
by lisar

Do you think the characters could have made different decisions that would have changed the outcome, or would everything have had to play out just as it did? Do you think they could have done more to effect change in their lives?

14

Aug. 25, 2017
by Navy Mom

Why do you think the author was unclear about what really happened to Lucy? What do you think really happened—and why?

22

Aug. 25, 2017
by Navy Mom

Do you agree with the underlying theme about how we can control some things and prevent others, but sometimes we simply have to yield to life and let it happen.

15

Aug. 21, 2017
by alwaysdaddygirl

Why is Lucy so affected by Charles Manson and his "family"? Why do you think the fascination with these young women continues to this day?

6

Aug. 19, 2017
by Lerrgoo

Cruel Beautiful World

2

Aug. 17, 2017
by reene

Memorable quotes

4

Aug. 17, 2017
by reene

A reviewer wrote, the novel "is all about love until it's not." What do you think this reviewer means? In writing about the many faces of love, what statement do you think the author is making about love in general?

4

Aug. 15, 2017
by melindah

Why do you think the author chose the title? How does the title relate to the themes of the novel?

5

Aug. 15, 2017
by dawnc

Sorry, Cruel Beautiful World by Caroline Leavitt is closed for new posts.
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