Phyllis asks Nova, “[W]hat’s so wrong with being a busybody?” (p. 191). Where do you stand on the question? Was her nosiness a good thing or a bad thing? Do you consider yourself a busybody, or do you know someone who is?

Book Clubs The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson Discussion
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Phyllis asks Nova, “[W]hat’s so wrong with being a busybody?” (p. 191). Where do you stand on the question? Was her nosiness a good thing or a bad thing? Do you consider yourself a busybody, or do you know someone who is?

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I think being a busybody can actually be a good thing. I live in a 44-unit condo community, and there’s always been that one retiree who seems to know everything about everybody. Right now, there’s an elderly man who talks to everyone. He was able to help one of our neighbors who had a mental health crisis; the situation would have been much worse had he not been aware of the woman’s history and her typical comings and goings.

That said, there’s a fine line between being a busybody and a gossip. It also presents problems when busybodies reach incorrect conclusions and act on them.

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As a very private person, I am tend to be allergic to busybodies in that I tend to avoid them at all costs. However, I do agree that there are instances where being a busybody can be helpful. For example, the busybodies in our neighborhood tend to watch out for everyone’s kids and watch peoples’ house if they know they are on vacation. And in Phyliss’ case, her being a busybody did help solve the case. On the other hand, being a busybody can have negative repercussions not only for the “snoopee” but also on the snooper as Phyllis found out when she heard Sandy describe her as “having no friends or family, quite lonely, letting her imagination run wild…a sad character.” (p. 137)

I think for Phyllis being a busybody came from a place of loneliness and not one of malicious intent. It gave her something to do and gave her life some purpose and in the case, of investigating the case some excitement, a sense of importance (being in the know) and camraderie.

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Love this question. :slight_smile:

Sometimes you have to be a busybody when it is being “busy” about how to help someone. :slight_smile:

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I like this question too - I find it a very reflective one. I think Phyllis’ busybody nature turned out to be a help in this story. I don’t consider myself to be a busybody but sometimes wish I was more like some busybodies I have known. I do think caring and good intentions, rather than just nosiness or an instinct to cause trouble, are the key to being a “good” busybody.

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I also live in a community with people who know everything. They are the people to go to when you have a problem. I am more of a private person, don’t ask many questions. I think Phyllis performed well in her busybody roll.

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I ordinarily despise busybodies and try to never be one, but in the case of Phyllis it certainly made for a great story and she solved a lot of mysteries.

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I hate the term busybody. If it’s just someone that is into everyone’s business because they are bored or into drama, then I think it’s a bad thing. If you are genuinely interested in people are just aware of your neighbors and surroundings, then it’s a good thing. I think intent matters here.

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I think it depends on your definition of busybody. In this book, Phyllis often took it too far, to the point of being intrusive and accusatory. But I do value curiosity and wanting to know other people’s stories. So if you take “busybody” as a form of curiosity, I think it’s good. If you are simply being nosy and putting yourself into someone else’s business for no other purpose than to know gossip, then it could be a bad thing. It depends on the motivation behind it and its application.