Boy Swallows Universe Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

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Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton

Boy Swallows Universe

by Trent Dalton
  • BookBrowse Review:
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  • Readers' Rating (2):
  • First Published:
  • Apr 2, 2019, 464 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Apr 2020, 480 pages
  • Reviewed by BookBrowse Book Reviewed by:
    Karen Lewis
  • Genres & Themes
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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, Brisbane, Australia and our BookBrowse Review of Boy Swallows Universe.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. Slim's view of the world is that: "We all got a bit o' good and a bit o' bad in us…" Discuss the ways in which characters in the novel are both good and bad at the same time.
  2. What do you think is the meaning of the red telephone, and the mysterious voice that speaks to Eli?
  3. Do good life lessons remain valid if delivered by evil men?
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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 Harper Perennial. 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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Reviews

Beyond the Book:
  Brisbane, Australia

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