45 pages • 1-hour read
Ninth House
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of sexual violence and/or harassment, substance use, addiction, physical abuse, and mental illness.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How did you react to Bardugo's darker, more adult take on magic compared to her young adult fantasy works like Six of Crows? What makes this interpretation of magic distinct?
2. The novel opens with Alex severely injured and hiding in the Hutch. How did this beginning shape your expectations for the story, and how did those expectations evolve?
3. What impact did the novel’s alternating timelines have on your reading experience? Did this approach enhance or detract from the escalating tension?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. Alex uses her traumatic past experiences to navigate Yale's privileged environment. How have your own past challenges helped you to adapt to new situations?
2. The novel explores different kinds of friendships. Which relationship resonated most with you, and why? What parallels can you draw between these characters and friends that you have known?
3. Throughout the novel, the characters must often choose between following rules and doing what they believe is right. Reflect on a time when you faced a similar ethical dilemma. What choice did you make? Did you come to regret your decision?
4. How do you relate to the theme of belonging in unfamiliar environments? What strategies have you used to adapt to external pressures while maintaining your authentic self?
5. The novel suggests that power and privilege can corrupt people's sense of responsibility. Have you witnessed similar dynamics in your own institutions or communities?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book's relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.
1. How does the novel's portrayal of Yale's secret societies critique real-world power structures and manifestations of institutional privilege?
2. In what ways does the novel challenge or reinforce traditional narratives about class mobility and education as a path to success?
3. How does the novel's portrayal of drug use and addiction reflect broader societal attitudes toward these issues?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book's structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.
1. Analyze the significance of Alex's ability to see Greys. How does this power serve as both a blessing and a curse throughout the narrative?
2. How does Bardugo use the contrast between Darlington and Alex's backgrounds to explore themes of privilege and responsibility?
3. Examine the role of female friendship and solidarity in the novel. How does this dynamic contrast with the portrayal of male relationships?
4. What purpose does the Bridegroom's subplot serve in the larger narrative?
5. How does the author use supernatural elements to examine the effects of power dynamics and institutional corruption in the real world?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book's content and themes.
1. If you could design a new magical ritual for one of Yale's secret societies, what would it be? What would its elements reveal about the nature of power and privilege?
2. Imagine that you are tasked with creating a protective ward for Lethe House. What elements would you incorporate to reflect the themes of the novel?
3. If you could interview one character from the book about their experiences after the events of the novel, who would it be? What would you ask them?
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