Do Not Disturb

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

1. All the characters in Do Not Disturb have various secrets, degrees of culpability, and guilt over the things they have done. Which character do you connect with the most? What similarities do you share with that character?

2. While the depiction of The Dangers of Jealousy within Claudia is taken to the extreme, have you ever had similar feelings of jealousy and resentment? Reflect on those moments and discuss how your experiences lead you to better understand Claudia’s character. Despite being the primary antagonist, do you have any sympathy for her? Why or why not?

3. In what ways do you connect with the characters in Do Not Disturb in relation to the theme of Appearance Versus Reality? While most of their secrets are extreme, do you ever have similar feelings of guilt, anxiety, or trauma over the things you hide? What advice would you give to these characters to help them better grapple with their hidden selves?

4. How does the novel’s depiction of the interplay between destiny and choice relate to your own life? Discuss specific moments in your life where you believe destiny played a role, then consider how your free will also impacted the outcome. Relate your experience to at least one character in the novel.

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

1. In what ways does the novel convey The Psychological Impact of Trauma and Abuse? Do you find Quinn, Claudia, and/or Rosalie’s actions as a result of their past trauma believable? In what ways could McFadden have done a better job grappling with this difficult subject?

2. How does the text explore the power dynamics of privilege and connection? Consider Derek’s influence as well as Quinn’s own relation to Scott. How does this relate to current societal views surrounding political, financial, and/or legal privilege?

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

1. Read Freida McFadden’s text The Housemaid. Compare and contrast the way that McFadden builds a mood of suspense and intrigue in both novels. Be sure to examine specific literary elements like diction, point of view, symbolism, and/or motifs.

2. Consider the characters of Rosalie and Claudia. How do their pasts impact their actions in the present? How are they different or similar? Trace the theme’s development throughout the course of the text.

3. Analyze the way that the tone of the novel shifts with the changing point of view. How does McFadden use her point of view to develop each character so that each perspective is unique?

4. How does McFadden use foreshadowing in the novel to build suspense? How does she use red herrings?