The Guest List

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you correctly guess who the killer was? What clues in the text led you to suspect her? Did you correctly guess who was murdered?
• What surprised you most about the novel? Did any of the secrets that came out shock you more than others?
• How do you think the novel would have been different if it hadn’t been set at a wedding?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Were you ever suspicious of any of the characters’ stories? What made you trust or doubt certain characters over others?
• Have you ever had to keep a secret about your loved ones? Have you ever had to hold anyone you cared about accountable for their actions?
• Which of the characters did you find most relatable? Did you like any character more at the end of the novel than at the start? Which did you find most sympathetic?
• Did you like the way Foley set the tone for the novel? Do you think you would have read it differently if it were set on a sunny tropical island?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• What do you think Foley is trying to say about gender and class in the novel? Do you think she makes her points effectively?
• How does the novel reflect the cultural moment in which it is set? Would it have been different if it were set in a different time or place?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Is The Folly merely the setting of the novel, or does it have any symbolic or thematic significance? Are the characters impacted at all by their physical surroundings?
• How did mentioning the murder early in the novel establish your expectations for the rest of the story? How would the novel have been different if it were told in chronological order?
• What do you think the game Survival symbolizes? How is it used throughout the novel to illuminate Will’s character?
• Do you think all of the characters got what they deserved at the end?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine the novel was told entirely from Will’s perspective. How do you think the novel would be different? Which interactions would you have most wanted to see from his perspective?
• If you were to throw a party on a secluded island, what measures would you take to ensure the events in the novel wouldn’t occur?

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