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Library Book Clubs: March- Luster


You can lay your hands on me (2021) by Miranda Forrester---courtesy of Forrester's website

Questions to ponder as you read the book

General questions 

  • Which character(s) did you like and why? Which did you not like and why? 
  • Do you identify with any of the characters and why? 
  • Setting plays a big role in the book. What key differences are there between New York City and New Jersey, as seen in the book?

Questions about race

  • Edie notes an 'asymmetry' between how she and Eric view the world around them. What does she mean by this? What allows Eric to stay unware of this imbalance between the two of them? How do the two of them move through the world differently and why?
  • Eric and Rebecca are a white couple raising a black daughter. How do they approach this? What do you think about their approach and their parenting? What role do you think they hoped Edie would play in Akila's life? 
  • What do you think about the relationship between Edie and Akila? In what ways does race affect their relationship?

Questions about relationships

  • Part of what draws Edie to Eric in the beginning is a 'power imbalance.' Why do you think this is appealing to Edie? What types of power does Eric have over Edie throughout the book? 
  • What role does violence play in Edie's relationship with Eric? How might her past experiences of sex and violence shape her relationship with Eric? 
  • How might other relationships Edie has witnessed, such as her parent's relationship, affected how she views her own relationships, especially her relationship with Eric?
  • How does Eric differ in how he behaves with Edie in private and how he behaves with his family and friends?
  • What do you think of Eric and Rebecca's marriage? What role does Edie play in it? Why do you think Rebecca invited Edie into their lives like she did?

Questions on work & art

  • Why did Edie stop making art, and what do you think motivates Edie to start making art again?
  • What does Edie learn about herself as an artist by the end of the book?
  • How does work tie into Edie's views of herself and her identity?
  • What do you think of the relationships Edie has with her coworkers? 

Questions about your self

  • What role does your identity play in your relationships? Your work? Your hobbies? Your view of your self? 
  • How have past relationships (with family, friends, romantic partners) shaped how you view relationships now? 
  • Luster is written by a Marist alum who, after graduation, struggled to find work and used writing as an outlet. What outlets do you have in your own life? Do you relate to the author at all? 

 

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