WellRead’s February 2021 selection was The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. This is a devastating but tender novel that reaches far and wide in its interrogation of inheritance, trauma, betrayal and love to offer an unprecedented account of the American past.
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 The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr:
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In an interview, Jones said that it was “important for the core of this book to be hope and love”. In what ways does he achieve this?
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How do women—such as Maggie, Essie, Be Auntie, Sarah, and Puah—impact the larger community of the plantation? Discuss how femininity and female strength are represented.
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The voices of distant ancestors are heard throughout the novel. How do the whispers of the ancestors guide the characters? How do they guide the reader?
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How does Timothy’s experience in the North impact his view of the plantation, and of Samuel and Isaiah? Do you think this makes him more sympathetic, or perhaps a more dangerous evil?
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Did the reckoning at the end of the novel surprise you or did you sense it coming?
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What did you make of Isaiah’s final vision of Samuel and what do you think happens to Isaiah in the end?
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Jones has said that he wants readers “to take a renewed sense of humanity away from this book. I really want us to see the complexity, the nuances, and the humanness of each other, such that we will stop doing each other harm and give each other the grace that we deserve simply because we exist”. What did you take away from the book?
Please note, these questions were written and distributed in February, 2021.