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Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan
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2
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15
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May 15, 2025
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How does Lies and Weddings amplify the decadence in Kevin Kwan's other novels? To what audience would you recommend the book? Is there another book or author you feel addresses parallel themes or has a similar style?
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9
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15
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May 19, 2025
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Regarding the lies in the novel's storylines, which revelations surprised you the most? What is at the heart of these lies? Who or what is being served by such carefully guarded falsehoods? Would it have been less painful to just live with the truth?
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6
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11
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May 18, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Lies and Weddings? (no spoilers, please!)
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15
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26
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May 18, 2025
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Throughout the novel the characters enjoy their wealth by going to exclusive restaurants, jetting around the world, and dressing in designer clothes, among other things. What was the one thing that you envied about the lifestyle? And why?
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8
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17
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May 18, 2025
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As you read the dramatic opening scene, what were your theories about the backstory behind the fatal showdown between Henry Tong and Roger Gao? How did the opulence and the outrageousness set the tone for the rest of the novel?
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7
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21
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May 18, 2025
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Which of the various wedding locales and venues appealed to you the most? If you could have an unlimited budget for your wedding, what features would you choose? As a guest, what was the best wedding you ever attended, and what made it so enjoyable?
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8
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14
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May 18, 2025
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Rosina tells Rufus she thought he’d have realized that he has “never been in a position to marry for love.” (p. 211). How much do you think being wealthy, famous or royal dictates who you can have a relationship with or who you can wed?
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6
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12
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May 17, 2025
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Do you think Luis Felipe could have been saved? Was there anything that could have been done after the time we meet him in the book that might have improved his chances or was he a lost cause by that point?
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7
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15
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May 17, 2025
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If you were Eden, would you have accepted Luis Felipe's invitation if it meant a mega payoff for you, your loved ones, or a charity?
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7
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12
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May 17, 2025
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Despite the appearance of wealth, Lord Greshamsbury (Francis) and Prince Julius zu Liechtenburg are both facing financial ruin. What protections do their respective nobility and royalty bestow? Are their titles more of a burden than a benefit?
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4
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7
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May 17, 2025
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The book's 1995 sections are set before the return of Chinese authority. What do you predict for the future of British prestige? Is Martha Dung the new face of status and power in our real world? How will the next generation of global wealth evolve?
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4
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8
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May 17, 2025
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Kevin Kwan uses footnotes to provide us with insider details. What were the most fascinating tidbits you discovered? How would you answer the question he asks at the bottom of page 70: "Where do you rank and what sort of feelings does this bring up?"
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12
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26
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May 17, 2025
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How does Eden navigate the world of prejudice and elitism? In what circumstances do Augie, Bea, and Rufus suffer less because they are biracial?
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6
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14
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May 17, 2025
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The destruction at Bellaloha shows natural forces overruling carefully laid human plans. Similarly, Rene receives excellent medical treatment but is at the mercy of his illness. What other examples did you see of problems that money can't solve?
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6
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13
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May 17, 2025
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How are Eden and Rufus transformed by their southwestern road trip? Does it measure up to the glamorous jet-setting they did previously?
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5
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12
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May 17, 2025
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Despite the great expense and opulence of their wedding, Maxxie and Augie could not prevent the volcanic eruption. But could they have prevented the circumstances that immediately put their marriage on the rocks?
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3
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6
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May 17, 2025
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Everything Lady Arabella does is a calculated move. What motivates her? Why is she unable to have a loving parent-child relationship? What causes Luis Felipe's destructive bent? What does the novel say about creating loving bonds within a family?
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6
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12
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May 17, 2025
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Eden shares common ground with Freddy, whose Iranian mother died when he was younger. How are Eden and Freddy shaped by the loss of a parent and by their global upbringing? What similar disappointments do they experience in the quest for true love?
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3
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6
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May 16, 2025
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Do men have more power than women within the families and societies of Lies and Weddings? Or is gender irrelevant, with power being derived through other factors?
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5
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14
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May 16, 2025
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Rufus is caught between his mother's expectations and his true self. How does he balance being dutiful with finding fulfillment? Ultimately, what do you think the basis is for his authentic identity: Ancestry? Affluence? Ability?
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2
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5
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May 15, 2025
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