60 pages • 2 hours read
Eleanor CattonBirnam Wood
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. Psychological thrillers, like Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley, rely on the characters’ interiorities escalating action so that their lives or their lives of others fall under threat. How does Birnam Wood rank as a psychological thriller? Do you think this genre label is apt or would you characterize the novel differently?
2. Catton’s previous novel, The Luminaries, similarly featured a large cast of characters whose impact on each other is often revealed after the fact. What similarities does this novel share with its predecessor? How might this give you a clearer sense of Catton’s authorial style?
3. Who was your favorite character in Birnam Wood? Were you pleased by the resolution of their narrative, or did you wish their story concluded on a different note?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. What are your thoughts on the tension between private and public property? Do you think certain places should remain public? How does it make you feel when people or corporations try to 
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