The Keeper of Stories

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel presents the compelling idea that everyone has a story worth telling. What was your initial reaction to Janice’s habit of collecting others’ stories? Did your view of this practice change by the end of the book?

2. What surprised you most about Janice’s transformation from a passive collector of stories to the active protagonist of her own narrative?

3. The Keeper of Stories shares themes with other books about the healing power of human connection, such as Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library. In what ways do these works differ in their exploration of how stories and connections can transform a person’s life?

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

1. Janice collects stories partly to avoid confronting her past. Have you ever used others’ experiences or stories as a way to avoid dealing with challenges?

2. The novel portrays several forms of caregiving: Janice cleans homes, Fiona parents Adam, and Mrs. B preserves memories. Which character’s approach to caring for others resonated most with you, and why?

3. Mrs. B encourages Janice to see that she isn’t responsible for her mother’s fate. When have you carried guilt for something beyond your control? What eventually helped you move past it?

4. Janice finds herself torn between the comfort of her established life and the possibility of change with Euan. Describe a time when you faced a similar crossroads. What factors influenced your decision?

5. The recurring image of Janice dancing in private moments reveals her true spirit beneath her quiet exterior. We see glimpses of the “lioness” she becomes when she moves to music or stands up to Tiberius. What hidden part of your personality might surprise people who think they know you well?

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

1. Janice’s position as “just” a house cleaner contrasts sharply with the elevated social status of her clients. What commentary does Page offer on class divisions in contemporary British society through these relationships?

2. Mrs. B’s home, built into the wall of one of Cambridge’s oldest colleges, becomes a battleground between preservation and progress. In what ways does this conflict reflect broader societal tensions about tradition versus modernization?

3. Throughout the story, characters are judged by their occupations, from Janice’s cleaning work to Mike’s inability to keep a job. How does the book challenge conventional thinking about the relationship between career and personal worth?

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

1. Stories within stories appear throughout the novel, from Becky’s tale to the various client histories Janice collects. How does this structure enhance the novel’s themes and mirror Janice’s journey?

2. How does Mrs. B’s telling of Becky’s story influence Janice’s character development? How does it function as both a parallel and catalyst to Janice’s narrative?

3. Fiona’s dollhouse gradually transforms from an undertaker’s business to a bakery as she processes her grief. How does this symbolic shift reflect the novel’s themes and its messages about healing and transformation?

4. Page makes a deliberate choice in using “Mrs. YeahYeahYeah” and “Mr. NoNoNotNow” as Janice’s nicknames for certain characters. This naming technique appears throughout the novel in different forms. What do these choices reveal about power dynamics and Janice’s perception of others?

5. The author occasionally shifts the viewpoint away from Janice to characters like Euan or Mr. Mukherjee. These momentary glimpses into other perspectives occur at strategic points in the narrative. What purpose do these brief perspective changes serve in the overall story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to collect and preserve your own life story in the style of the novel, which five significant moments would you include and why?

2. Mrs. B shares Becky’s story to inspire Janice toward self-acceptance. Create a brief story you might tell someone struggling with guilt or self-doubt that could help them see their situation differently.

3. Euan’s giving Janice a bicycle symbolizes new adventures ahead. Imagine where their first cycling journey might take them, both geographically and emotionally.

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