Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Book Club Questions

Welcome

Whether you’re reading Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, by V. E. Schwab, with a book club or with friends online, these questions will help you dig into the book.

There are twelve questions in five groups. The first four groups avoid the ending, and the last group is full of spoilers, so I’ll warn you before we get there. This is an adult book, so please be mindful of your group.

Structure

Question one. The book moves between Alice in the present and the stories of the women who came before her. Did the structure help the story, or slow it down?

Question two. Each section is labelled with a name and the year of a death. Why do you think Schwab chose that format?

Alice

Question three. Alice is grieving a sister, and starting a new life far from home. How does her grief shape the way she reacts to everything that happens?

Question four. Alice’s voice is wry, lonely, and often sharp. What did you notice about how she sees herself?

Hunger And Love

Question five. In this book, hunger is physical, emotional, and romantic. Where did you see those meanings overlap?

Question six. Lottie is both magnetic and dangerous. Did you trust her, and when did that change?

The Monsters

Question seven. Sabine is a very different kind of vampire from the romantic ones in other books. What makes her frightening, and what makes her compelling?

Question eight. The story gives each woman a chance to become herself, not only a victim. Which backstory moved you most?

Spoiler Questions

Now a warning. These last questions give away the ending, so if you have not finished the book, pause here.

Question nine. Lottie tells Alice that killing Sabine will give her life back. Why do you think she lied, and did you believe her?

Question ten. Alice kills Sabine, and then Lottie. Was that justice, revenge, or something else?

Question eleven. The ending includes Catty’s voice note and a call with Alice’s father. What do those details add to the final scene?

Question twelve. The book ends with Alice hungry and walking into the night. Do you read that as hopeful, bleak, or both?

Wrap Up

If your group only has time for one question, pick this one: what does the book say about grief, and what we do with it?

Share your answers in the comments, and thanks for reading along. See you next time.