The Rachel Incident

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of pregnancy termination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The Rachel Incident uses a dual-timeline structure in which the adult Rachel narrates the events of her college years. How did this affect your reading experience and your understanding of the characters’ growth?

2. The novel explores complex friendship dynamics. How does this compare to O’Donoghue’s exploration of toxic workplace relationships in her 2018 novel, Promising Young Women? What recurring themes does she explore in her work?

3. Rachel navigates deep platonic intimacy with James Devlin and romantic relationships throughout the novel. Which relationship dynamic resonated with you more powerfully, and why?

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

1. Rachel and James Devlin develop an intensely close friendship that occasionally borders on codependency. Have you experienced a friendship that was nurturing but also potentially limiting? How did you find balance in that relationship?

2. Throughout the novel, characters experiment with different identities as a means of self-discovery. Which character’s journey of self-exploration most closely mirrored your own experiences?

3. Rachel describes her first love with Carey as “clawing and mischievous” with “short fingernails” that “wrapped us in spit” (85). How does this vivid description compare to your observations or experiences of intense first connections?

4. When Rachel and Carey reconnect years later, she compares finding him again to discovering a favorite pair of old boots. How does this align with your experience of long-term relationships?

5. Rachel stumbles into journalism through a series of apparent accidents and connections. How does her winding career path compare to your own experience of finding professional purpose?

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

1. The novel is set against the backdrop of Ireland’s abortion ban and the campaign to repeal it. How did the novel deepen your understanding of this social issue?

2. The 2008 recession significantly impacts the characters’ lives and opportunities. What perspectives does the text offer about the recession? How do economic limitations shape the characters’ decisions?

3. James Devlin and Dr. Byrne represent different generations of queer experience in Ireland. What does the contrast between these two characters suggest about the way attitudes to queerness have changed in Ireland over time?

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

1. Adult Rachel narrates with both wisdom and humor, occasionally addressing readers directly. How did this narrative style influence your understanding of the story and its characters?

2. The famine motif appears throughout the novel, particularly regarding the Harrington-Byrnes marriage. How does this motif connect to the different forms of emotional deprivation that some of the characters experience?

3. The Wonder Woman symbol evolves from a reference to Dorothy Parker to a representation of Rachel’s physical self-acceptance. How does this evolution reflect Rachel’s broader personal development?

4. Shandon Street is more than just a setting in the novel. What does it represent to the characters, and how does its meaning transform throughout the story?

5. The title The Rachel Incident refers to Deenie’s misunderstanding about Rachel and Byrne. How does this “incident” catalyze change in multiple characters’ lives? 

6. The novel features several intertwined relationships that develop over time. What patterns emerge across these different connections, and what might the author be suggesting about human relationships?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. James Devlin becomes a successful writer for a popular talk show. What elements from The Rachel Incident would make compelling television, and how would you translate them to that medium?

2. The Epilogue reveals that Deenie has found a new partner while still caring for Byrne. What challenges would this unconventional arrangement present, and how might these characters navigate them?

3. Rachel explains that her narrative began as a confession for Deenie but evolved into something more personal. What parts of your own coming-of-age story would you want to include in a confession?

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