WellRead’s March 2022 selection was Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors, a big-city love story that has been subverted enough to avoid cliché but that still achieves sensitivity and relatability, and comes complete with a wide cast of characters.
Use these discussion questions to engage with the book further, whether in a book club with friends, or just on your own as you digest the story.
Reading questions for Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors:
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How did you think Cleo and Frank's relationship would unfold after reading the first two chapters?
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We think it's fair to say that most of the characters suffer from arrested maturity. It's only thanks to the few who are able to demonstrate compassion and emotional intelligence that growth is possible for the others. Is this fair on Eleanor and Santiago the emotionally mature ones?
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Name a character more narcissistic than Anders?
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A review in the LA Times observed that while some characters are "temporarily broke, no one is poor". Discuss how Mellors explores the intersection between creativity and economy and how it relates to her characters' life decisions.
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Do you think hedonism is sustainable in a healthy relationship?
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Ok, let's talk about the Kintsugi metaphor: what does it mean and did it work for you?
- The chapters from Eleanor’s point of view are the only ones written in first person and in fragments. Why do you think Mellors decided to do this and did you simply adore these parts (we did, just saying)?
Please note, these questions were written and distributed in March, 2022.