The Lost Apothecary

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Much of the magic within the novel is left to interpretation: Is it true sorcery and haunting, or a trick of the mind? Did you read this as a fantastical novel, or a psychological one?
• Did you sympathize with the illegal actions of the apothecary? Or is murder wrong in every circumstance?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• The novel takes an ambiguous view of secrecy, presenting it in both positive and negative lights. Do you view secrecy more as healthy or as corrosive, and why?
• What was your perspective on Caroline and James’s marriage? Did you want them to reconcile, or did you find their relationship to be toxic?
• Have you ever experienced betrayal from a trusted loved one? How did you navigate the experience? 
• Nella has a strict rule that her poisons will only ever hurt men. Do you feel that this makes her crime less wrong? Why or why not?
• Discuss a time when you had to make a difficult ethical choice. Compare your approach to the choices of the characters.

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• Discuss the way men and women are treated by officials and authority figures throughout the novel and how this reflects the treatment of men and women today.
• Compare the social settings of the two contrasting timelines. Which social norms have changed between Nella’s time and Caroline’s? Which have remained the same?
• Discuss the “upstairs downstairs” element of the novel and how class divides motivate the characters.

4. Literary Analysis

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

• Consider the role innocence plays in the novel. Are any of the characters truly innocent? Explain your reasoning.
• Who is the novel’s primary antagonist, and why? Antagonists may include characters, society, the natural world, and the self.
• What role does the written word play in the novel, and how does it influence the characters’ growth?
• Early in the novel, Caroline goes mudlarking along the Thames. What might the physicality of this activity represent on a symbolic level?
• Choose two characters who are foils to each other, and explain why.

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Imagine this novel as a miniseries. Create a cast list of who would play the central characters.
• Rewrite a scene in the novel from a secondary or tertiary character’s point of view.
• Imagine you had your own botanical spellbook. Which spell would you like to cast, and why? Discuss some of the ingredients that might go into it.