Those Empty Eyes

1. General Impressions (3 questions)

Objective: Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• How did the novel’s mosaic structure impact your experience of tension in the narrative? Were there any particular moments where the back-and-forth increased your anxiety for Alex?
• The novel features a sprawling cast of characters, allowing the narrative to unwind across multiple subplots. Do you feel like the novel helped you to keep track of who was who? Looking back on how these threads come together, did you enjoy the novel’s diversions?
• How do you feel about Garrett and Jacqueline’s motivations in the novel? Do you sympathize with their vigilante work, resulting in the deaths of Alex’s family?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection (4 questions)

Objective: Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• What should civilians do when legal authorities fail to carry out their duties? How can ordinary citizens guarantee justice when those institutions willfully obstruct it?
• Have you ever discovered an uncomfortable truth about someone you love? How did you deal with this discovery? Did you confront them about it or did you choose to distance yourself from them?
• Have you ever participated in any form of collective action to pursue justice on someone else’s behalf or speak up against a culture of violence? Share that experience and make comparisons between the issues you encountered and what occurs in the novel.