The Fox Wife

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The world of The Fox Wife blends fantasy and historical fiction through its portrayal of fox spirits in late Qing dynasty China. What aspects of this world-building did you find most compelling? Which elements made the supernatural feel convincingly integrated with the historical setting?

2. Yangsze Choo weaves multiple narrative perspectives throughout The Fox Wife. How did switching between Snow’s first-person diary entries and Bao’s third-person sections affect your reading experience? If you’ve read Choo’s other novels, like The Ghost Bride or The Night Tiger, how does her approach to storytelling in this book compare?

3. What scene or moment from the novel has lingered most vividly in your mind?

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

1. Snow’s pursuit of revenge against Bektu ultimately leaves her feeling empty rather than fulfilled. When have you pursued something you thought would bring satisfaction only to find it hollow?

2. Throughout the novel, characters like Snow, Tagtaa, and even the bookkeeper’s granddaughter must navigate safety in a world that doesn’t protect them. Can you relate to the ways these women negotiate their autonomy and security? What strategies have you observed or experienced in navigating challenging power dynamics?

3. The relationship between Bao and Tagtaa represents a love opportunity lost to social expectations and poor timing. Have you ever experienced a “might have been” relationship or missed opportunity that you still think about? How did it shape your future choices?

4. Snow and Kuro struggle with grief and blame after losing their child. Their journey toward reconciliation requires them to confront their shared responsibility and find forgiveness. How have you witnessed or experienced the way grief can both separate and eventually reunite people?

5. Names and identities shift throughout the novel, with fox spirits adopting different personas to survive. When in your life have you felt the need to present different versions of yourself in different contexts?

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

1. The novel is set during the decline of the Qing dynasty, a time of significant social and political upheaval in China. In what ways does this historical backdrop influence the characters’ options and choices?

2. Fox spirits in Chinese folklore are often portrayed as seductive and dangerous, particularly female foxes. Choo both utilizes and subverts these traditional depictions in her portrayal of Snow, Kuro, and Shiro. What might this approach to folklore say about how stereotypes affect marginalized groups?

3. Do you see parallels between how women in the novel negotiate their safety and autonomy and the ways women navigate similar power imbalances in contemporary society? Do you think the fundamental challenges have changed significantly over the century since the novel’s setting?

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

1. Discuss the significance of the diary format for Snow’s sections of the narrative. How does this narrative choice affect your understanding of her character and motivations compared to the third-person narration used for Bao’s sections?

2. The motif of shadows appears throughout the novel, from Bao’s missing shadow to the people with no shadows that Bohai fears. How does this symbolic element connect to the theme of liminality and the fox spirits’ existence between worlds?

3. As a driving force, revenge propels Snow’s initial journey, yet the novel ultimately suggests that vengeance is hollow and damaging to one’s character. What turning points mark Snow’s evolution in her understanding of what will truly heal her grief?

4. Consider the contrast between Snow and Bao as narrative foils throughout the novel. How does juxtaposing a character who seeks truth with one who lives by deception enrich the novel’s exploration of moral complexity?

5. Photography and fixed images represent danger to foxes whose survival depends on remaining undefined. In what ways does this concept of captured identity appear throughout the novel?

6. At the novel’s conclusion, Snow buries her diary under a crumbling wall, symbolically preserving yet releasing her memories. This act mirrors her journey from grief to a new beginning with Kuro. What statement might Choo be making about how we process grief and move forward with our lives?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you are a fox spirit like Snow, Kuro, or Shiro, living in contemporary society. What name would you choose, what profession would best suit your abilities, and how would you navigate the challenges of modern documentation and surveillance?

2. Choo concludes the novel with Snow and Kuro beginning a new life together in Korea as herbalists. Write a short scene imagining their life five years later.

3. If you were to design a shrine or offering to fox spirits based on this novel, what elements would you include and why? What might you ask of these complex beings?

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.