Reading guide for The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi

Reading Guide Questions

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Do you think Lakshmi does the right thing by asking Malik to go to Jaipur and learn the construction trade? Could she have found another way to keep Malik out of trouble?
2. What makes Malik such a likeable character? What three things do you think a great book character needs to make readers fall in love with him/her?
3. In what ways has Malik transformed from the grubby street urchin he used to be? Has he changed from the outside or the inside, or both?
4. Could Nimmi have done something to keep Malik from leaving Shimla? Ultimately, do you think it was good for them to be apart? Does Nimmi learn anything about herself as a result of their separation?
5. How are Nimmi and Lakshmi different? How are they similar?
6. What do you think Malik learns about himself and his place in the world of the Singhs? What are the class differences between him and the Singhs? How do those differences manifest themselves?
7. What secrets is Malik privy to? What makes him keep those secrets to himself?
8. How does Lakshmi use her influence with the Maharanis to help Manu? Do you feel she's manipulating a volatile situation or strategically deflecting it?
9. What kind of power do the Maharanis wield? What are the limitations to their power?
10. Is Sheela making a play for Malik or is she merely flirting? What is her motive for either? Does she betray him on purpose or inadvertently?
11. Lakshmi and Jay trade proverbs playfully. Do they resonate with you or remind you of sayings from your own upbringing?
12. What do you learn about the significance of gold in Indian culture, especially as it relates to married women? In your own family, what do gold or precious metals signify?
13. The book is set in the late 1960s. What does it showcase about life at that time of India's history? Does it reinforce or change any of your assumptions about India?
14. In the end, Ravi is not penalized for his part in a criminal endeavor. What did that signal to you as a reader? Do the wealthy ever pay for their transgressions?
15. Why does Radha refuse to learn anything about Niki's life? Do you think there will ever be a time when she's ready to know more?

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