Book Club Discussion Questions for The Compound by Aisling Rawle

1. How is power distributed within The Compound? Do the contestants truly have agency, or are they being manipulated by unseen forces? How does the illusion of choice factor into the novel?
2. What role does the desert environment play in the story? How does the harsh, isolated setting affect the characters' behavior and the overall tone of the novel?
3. How does Lily evolve throughout the narrative? What qualities make her compelling or frustrating as a main character? Do you think she changes for better or worse by the end?
4. How do the rules and mechanics of the competition clash with the contestants' basic instincts—survival, trust, empathy, etc.? What moments illustrate this tension most clearly?
5. What commentary is Rawle making about the ethics of reality television, materialism, and the entertainment industry? How does the novel reflect real-life examples of exploitative media and consumerism?
6. Are there parallels between how the producers control the contestants and how society at large influences individuals? Who benefits from this control in the story?
7. How are gender roles portrayed in The Compound? Do contestants perform or resist stereotypes in their pursuit of rewards or survival?
8. How do characters define what it means to win the game? Is victory purely material, or is there a deeper, more personal sense of success for some?
9. What did you think of the ending? Who did you expect to win? Which contestant would you have rooted for as a viewer?
10. Would you ever consider entering a competition like the one in The Compound? Why or why not? What would your strategy be—and how long do you think you'd last?

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