Whistler Book Club Questions

As soon as I read Ann Patchett’s newest book, I knew it would be perfect for a book club selection. I made a list of Whistler book club questions to help with your next book club. You can sit back and enjoy reading the book and let me do the rest for you.

Since starting a book club, one of the things I love to do when reading a book is to come up with discussion questions. I love discussing books with other readers. Kirsten and I have interviewed dozens of authors, so over the years, our questions have become quite in-depth!

Even if you will never be able to sit down with Ms. Patchett to ask her about this book, I hope that the Whistler book club questions will provide you with talking points for your book club.

Whistler Book Club Questions

1. What did you think of the cover and the book title?
2. Why do you think Eddie’s brief time in Daphne’s life left such a profound impact?
3. Daphne comments that older people are always drawn to her. Why do you think this is, and what do you think she is really saying with this observation?
4. What did you think of Daphne and Leda’s mother throughout the story?
5. Why do you think Abigail had such a different relationship with her two sons?
6. At the beginning of the book, Jonathan was jealous of Eddie. Do you think his jealousy was justified?
7. Do you think Eddie ever tried to contact Daphne and Leda when they were young?
8. Daphne and Leda have two different recollections of their childhood and how it shaped their future lives. Can both be right, or do you think one sister is correct?
9. Leda is the younger sibling, yet she is the one who leads Daphne to confront her past. What did you think about this reversal in birth order norms?
10. The car accident had a profound impact on both Daphne and Eddie, but even after the accident, Daphne was not afraid to drive in a car. Yet, she refuses to fly after her father died on a plane. Why do you think both of these events affected Daphne in such different ways?
11. Why was the story of Whistler so impactful to Daphne?
12. Eddie and Skip’s relationship is still hidden after all these years. Why do you think he has such a hold over Eddie? Do you think that relationship is toxic?
13. What do you think of Polly Hotalling? Was she in denial about Skip?
14. At the end of the book, Eddie tells Daphne to write down their story. Do you think this is the story that she wrote, or is the book happening in real time?
15. Do you have a favorite Ann Patchett novel?
16. If you’ve read others of hers, where does this rank for you?

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Epilogue

Will you be using these Whistler book club questions for your book club?