Book Club questions for Fear and Lovely
1) Fear and Lovely is a story filled with secrets and silences. What are some of these, and how do they impact the characters? Is staying silent the same as telling a lie?
2) Which character do you most relate to, and why?
3) What do we gain from Mallika’s first-person narrative voice? Do you think she is more driven by her head or her heart?
4) How are family dynamics depicted in the novel?
5) Discuss the characters’ varying attitudes towards marriage. Are there any positive models of marriage in the novel?
6) Discuss the depiction of mental health issues and treatment. Do you think the stigma around mental illness in this community worsens its impact on the characters who experience issues?
7) How important is female friendship in the novel
