The Only One Left

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you see the final plot twists of the novel coming? What clues in the text led you to expect them?
• Which characters did you most empathize with and why? Do you think any characters redeemed or condemned themselves by the end of the novel?

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?
• Did you initially believe the story perpetuated about Lenora Hope? What did you first think actually happened with the Hope murder?
• How did you feel when you realized Lenora was actually Virginia? How did it change your view of her character?
• Do you think Ricky would have turned himself in if his daughter had been charged with the death of her mother?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

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

• What does the novel suggest about the relationship between women and caretaking? How do different women in the novel take care of one another in different ways, whether they want to or are just expected to?
• How does the novel tackle issues about women’s roles in the 1920s and the 1980s? What differences and similarities do you notice between how women are treated in these times?

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