Setting:Kinnakee, Kansas 1985 to present-day
Characters:
- Lyle
- Libby Day
- Patty
- Ben
- Michelle
- Debbie
- Aunt Diane
- Runner
- Diondra
- Krissi Cates
- Trey
Questions:
1. How do you like the style of shifting narrators in Gillian Flynn's books?
2.
Flynn is known for writing books with unsavory protagonists and twists.
Did Libby, Patty, and Ben serving as narrators affect how much you
liked the book?
3. Throughout the book, Libby
is pulled back into reliving the evening when her whole family was
killed. People with seemingly good intentions, e.g., people who wanted
to help Libby or exonerate Ben, kind of force her back to the "dark
place." How do you think this impacts her world view or growing up?
4. Did you have any conspiracy theories or ideas about who the killer(s) might be as you read the book?
5.
Can a person's social role/how they are viewed by others/how many
friends they associate be a good indicator of guilt? Should these
factors be weighed heavily in an investigation. Describe how a
community's assumptions and discrimination against a person/family can
affect fairness in the legal system.
6. Do you think the
mother's decision was justified or a good idea? What other options do
you think she may have had? Why did she not chose those other options?
4.
In the story, Lyle is a member of a Kill Club - a group of people that
re-investigate murders. What is the most unique/interesting club or
organization that you have been involved with?
Conversation Summary:
Calling through conference call seemed to be the easiest solution. Here was some discussion topics:
- the author uses a similar narrative format of jumping between different points of view through the book, it gave the book a richer experience, readers get a better understanding of each character
- Ben was a favorite character, you can see why he had fan clubs
- the book was a bit difficult to get into the ending was not very satisfying, predictable for some but not so predictable for others
- presented issues with flaws with the legal system - using a minor's testimony, lack of substantial evidence, bias from the way the community viewed the Day family
- children being easily swayed by parents' expectations or what the children think they want to here (Libby, Krissi, etc.)
- Patty was a weak character, she had a lot of responsibilities, could she handle a farm and four children, unsure of herself and authority over Ben
- terrible choice of resolving her money problems, Patty's plans and motivations completely backfired - all the life insurance money went towards Ben's defense and the children did not have a better life
- whether Ben had a better life in jail
- changing theories of who the murderer was throughout the book
- money as a primary motivator throughout the book
- how the lack and abundance of money changed how people lived their lives (Ben working hard as a child vs. Libby not doing anything until she ran out of money vs. Les Miserables)
- whether the characters with money or no money lived meaningful existences
- men vs. women in dealing with hardship, isolation, etc.
References:
1.Trailer for Dark Places
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJJjy2cZeLk
