Book Club Discussion Questions for City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, North Korean Immigrants in the United States and our BookBrowse Review of City Under One Roof.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. How did having different narrators affect the storytelling? Did you identify with one more than with the others?
2. The author has said that she was inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Did you find any references in the story? Do you think there were any characters or moments that could have been inspired by the book?
3. Did your feelings about some of the characters change as you read the novel? Do you have a favorite?
4. Was Chief Sipley a good father?
5. There is a high occurrence of violence against women in Alaska. Why do you think that is? Do you think there is anything that can be done to change that?
6. What do you think you'd like most about living in Point Mettier? What would you like least?
7. Do you think the ending was justified?
8. What do you think Cara will do after the revelation on the final page?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Berkley Books. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.