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The Lonely Polygamist Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Summary |  Excerpt |  Reading Guide |  Reviews |  Beyond the Book |  Read-Alikes |  Genres & Themes |  Author Bio

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

The Lonely Polygamist

by Brady Udall
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (8):
  • Readers' Rating (19):
  • First Published:
  • May 3, 2010, 602 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 2011, 608 pages
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About this Book

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Mormon Fundamentalists and our BookBrowse Review of The Lonely Polygamist.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. What were your views on polygamy before reading the book? Did they change after you finished reading?
  2. Discuss Golden's progression from lonely polygamist to social polygamist. How does a renewal of faith assist this transformation?
  3. Compare and contrast Golden's behavior at the two funerals. How are they similar? In what ways are they different?
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  1. How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
  2. What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
  3. Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?


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

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Beyond the Book:
  Mormon Fundamentalists

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