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What did you know about Mary Quant and her various business lines before reading the book?
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22
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142
|
August 18, 2026
|
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How much did Quant’s husband, Alexander Plunket Green, and her business partner Archie McNair contribute to her success, in your opinion?
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19
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103
|
August 18, 2026
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Daphne and Fern’s parents are horrified that they’d become models. Has the career evolved over the years? In what ways do you think attitudes about modeling have changed, if at all? If you had a daughter who wanted to model, what would you tell her?
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14
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77
|
August 18, 2026
|
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Which of the women do you sympathize or identify with the most? Who do you think had the best life overall? Is there one you’d like to swap places with?
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2
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28
|
August 18, 2026
|
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Why do you think Quant’s fashions were such a hit among the youth of the era?
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18
|
127
|
August 18, 2026
|
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Which of the minor characters was a favorite, and why?
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10
|
70
|
August 18, 2026
|
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What did you think of Olivia’s relationship with Trevor? Why do you feel she forgot about his opening, and kept putting off calling his mother?
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20
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152
|
July 21, 2026
|
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What parallels do you see between the financial situation in the book and today’s global economy? What differences do you see between then and now?
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11
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55
|
September 17, 2026
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Olivia is more empathetic than Merritt, and asks herself, “Must I always suspect the absolute worst of a person?” (p. 240). Do you think this trait is required to be an effective investigator, or is it something that develops with experience?
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16
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115
|
July 21, 2026
|
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What did you think of the way Mary Quant's character and personality were portrayed?
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9
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72
|
August 18, 2026
|
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Did you blame Aphrodite for cheating on her husband, Hephaestus, or do you think her actions were justified? He later traps her in bed with Ares and exposes the couple’s affair (pp 142-148). Do you think their punishment was fitting?
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26
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157
|
July 2, 2026
|
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Aglaia, one of the Graces, tells Aphrodite that “War is desire made bloody.” (p. 20) What do you feel she means? Do you believe she’s correct?
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15
|
134
|
July 2, 2026
|
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As he’s designing his statue of Aphrodite, Alexandros struggles with what to put in her hands. Did you have any thoughts as you were reading as to what would be appropriate? What do you feel about his final choice?
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7
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38
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Why Do Men Go to War?
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8
|
73
|
July 2, 2026
|
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Were you familiar with any of the myths the author includes in the narrative? Which ones? How did the author’s versions compare to those you recall?
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10
|
88
|
July 2, 2026
|
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When Aphrodite complains about Alexandros’s housekeeping, he responds, “I haven’t the time to maintain it.” She replies, “We make time for the things we truly want, don’t we?” (p. 65) Do you agree with her?
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12
|
74
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
The only god that truly befriends Aphrodite is Apollo. Why do you believe so few of the gods show sympathy for her?
|
|
22
|
234
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Hera betrays Aphrodite several times throughout the novel, even after Aphrodite helps her seduce Zeus. Why do you suppose this is?
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|
13
|
92
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
To what audience would you recommend Aphrodite in Pieces? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
|
|
21
|
172
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Aphrodite accuses the Graces of trying to “force happiness,” but Aglaia responds, “We don’t force happiness…we find it.” (p.100). What do you think she means?
|
|
17
|
109
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Other than the main characters Aphrodite and Ares, which emerged as your favorites? Were there any that you despised?
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|
16
|
114
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Ares leaves Aphrodite after the couple is discovered. Do you think he should have stood by her, defying Zeus, or did he do the right thing by ending the relationship?
|
|
15
|
115
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Overall, what did you think of Aphrodite in Pieces? (No spoilers in this topic, please.)
|
|
28
|
270
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
What was your opinion of the relationship between Ares and Aphrodite? Why were they so attracted to each other, and what kept drawing them back together even after each had caused the other so much pain?
|
|
15
|
218
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
What did you think of the novel’s post-Troy ending? Did you enjoy the way the various threads wrapped up? Would you have liked to have seen a different ending for any of the characters?
|
|
16
|
125
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
What did you know about Aphrodite and what was your opinion of her before reading Aphrodite in Pieces? Did your feelings about her change over the course of the novel?
|
|
12
|
96
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
Have you read either of Lauren J.A. Bear’s previous novels, Medusa’s Sisters or Mother of Rome? If so, how do they compare to Aphrodite in Pieces?
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|
12
|
98
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
As the story unfolds, Thirza uncovers more about her family's past. How do the revelations about her family's history impact her relationships with other characters in the novel?
|
|
5
|
50
|
July 2, 2026
|
|
What do you think of the author’s choice to use first-person narration, setting the plot entirely from Olivia’s perspective? What might have been different if it had included other perspectives, or if the novel had been written in the third person?
|
|
14
|
83
|
July 21, 2026
|
|
Merritt and Olivia have a disagreement about sexism in the workplace. (pp 162-163). Merritt feels the problem with Olivia’s generation is that they “expect things to be easy.” Olivia replies, “No, not easy. Fair.” What did you think of this debate?
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|
13
|
88
|
July 21, 2026
|