The Extinction of Irena Rey Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Białowieża Forest and our BookBrowse Review of The Extinction of Irena Rey.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. The novel begins with a "warning" note from the translator, who we learn is also a character in the book. In this warning, Alexis writes, "Trust is crucial to every stage of the translation process" (1). In Alexis's footnotes, Emilia is represented throughout the novel as an unreliable narrator. But how would you classify the reliability of Alexis's translation—does she earn our trust as readers? Why or why not?
2. Relatedly, how does this framing set your expectations for the reading experience? Are those expectations subverted at all by the novel's end?
3. The novel begins in a collective narration, and then breaks off into the first person voice of Emilia. What effect does this have?

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