Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Bee Season chronicles the slow unraveling of a family. What was your overall emotional reaction to the Naumanns’ story? Did you find their journey more tragic, frustrating, or hopeful by the end of the novel?

2. The novel centers on a child prodigy whose talent is shaped and influenced by a parent’s expectations. How does this compare to other stories you’ve encountered with a similar premise, such as Walter Tevis’s The Queen’s Gambit? In what ways does Goldberg’s focus on mysticism and language make Eliza’s story unique?

3. If you’ve read Goldberg’s other novels, like Wickett’s Remedy or Feast Your Eyes, how does Bee Season fit with her body of work? If it doesn’t, what themes or stylistic features stood out to you in this novel? Do you see any consistent style or recurring thematic interests that might connect this novel to her wider body of work?

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

1. Each member of the Naumann family retreats into a private world to cope with reality. Did you find yourself identifying with one character’s method of seeking solace more than the others, whether it was Saul’s intellectualism, Miriam’s obsessive ordering, Aaron’s spiritual quest, or Eliza’s connection to language? Have you ever relied on a similar way of coping in your own life?

2. Saul’s attention is conditional, shifting from Aaron to Eliza based on their perceived potential. In what ways have you observed or experienced the weight of expectations, and how did that pressure shape your own motivation or relationships?

3. Aaron explores several different faiths in his search for belonging. Have you ever found yourself searching for a sense of belonging or purpose in a similar way? What did that experience feel like?

4. Has this book changed the way you think about language or spelling? Eliza experiences a deep, almost physical connection to words, feeling them “radiant as neon” in her mind (39). Are there any words that hold a special significance for you, and why?

5. The bond between Eliza and Aaron is fractured by a childhood incident and gradually shifts over time. Have you ever experienced distance or reconnection in a sibling or close relationship? What did that process look like for you?

6. Miriam is upset when Eliza doesn’t understand the significance of the gifted kaleidoscope. Can you recall a time when you tried to share something deeply meaningful with someone, only to have the gesture misunderstood? What makes it so difficult to communicate personal significance?

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

1. The novel portrays spelling bees as highly competitive and high-stakes events for children. How does the novel’s portrayal of the bee culture comment on society’s tendency to place adult-sized pressures on children in competitive arenas?

2. What does the novel suggest about the appeal of alternative religious movements, like the Hare Krishnas that Aaron joins, compared to more traditional institutions like the Naumanns’ synagogue?

3. The family struggles to cope when Miriam’s behavior and difficulties become more visible over time after being kept private for years. In what ways does the book’s depiction of her condition and the family’s response reflect societal attitudes about mental health?

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

1. How does the symbol of Saul’s study evolve throughout the novel? What does it ultimately represent about his character and the family’s shifting power dynamics?

2. What are some of the most striking examples of characters using complex language—through mystical study, chanting, or obsessive letter writing—instead of direct emotional communication with one another?

3. Miriam’s secret collection of stolen objects, which she calls her “kaleidoscope,” is a powerful symbol. How does it reveal the paradox of her quest for perfect order and her interpretation of Tikkun Olam?

4. The narrative perspective shifts between Eliza, Saul, Miriam, and Aaron. How did this multi-perspective approach deepen your understanding of the family’s breakdown and shape your view of each character’s role in it?

5. What is the symbolic weight of the word “origami” in Eliza’s final act? How does her deliberate misspelling represent her ultimate moment of self-definition?

6. Saul’s character can be seen as static. Do you agree with this assessment, or did you perceive any moments of genuine change or self-awareness in him by the novel’s end?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are tasked with creating a “word list” for one of the characters who isn’t Eliza. What 10 words would you choose for Saul, Miriam, or Aaron to define their personal journey, and why?

2. If you could add a new chapter to the book set five years after the final scene, what would it look like? What paths do you imagine Eliza and Aaron might take in their lives?

3. Saul uses the teachings of the mystic Abraham Abulafia to guide Eliza. If you were to design a personal “mystical” practice to find focus or meaning in your own life, what would it involve, and how might it connect to or differ from Saul’s approach?