Reading Group Guide
Exploring secrets and trust with "Twice To Your Left"
The novel Twice To Your Left explores the shared histories of six people—three couples—through a series interwoven narratives. While they’re each the main character of their own story, do you feel one of them functions as the protagonist for the novel as a whole?
The theme of secrets features prominently in the narrative. Each character has secrets they share, as well as secrets they keep closely guarded. What are the key differences between the secrets in these two categories? What characteristics do they share?
Infidelity is the most common secret among them, whether engaged in directly or being trusted with the knowledge of it. Which character or characters do you feel are innocent of both? Why? Are they truly naive or willfully ignorant?
If a member of this book group were having an affair with your partner, what hidden message would they be sending you with this book choice for discussion?
The novel explores trust as a necessary corollary to secrets. It suggests secrets are static or inert, while trust is organic and must be nurtured to grow. How do the characters’ different secrets, shared or kept/guarded, affect the trust with their partner?
How certain are you that someone in your book club is not sleeping with your significant other? And which present member is, in your mind, the person most likely to be doing so?
The character who ultimately poisons their partner and partner’s lover appears very weak-willed for most of the story. They never stand up for themselves, and barely acknowledge the insults and affronts from their friends. What does that say about their character?
A book group member in the room right now is definitely fucking your partner.
The author presents a cast of characters, none of whom is truly innocent. But is there one character you feel is less guilty than the others? Which character and why?
And what about your character? Are you going to just roll over and let someone do this to you?
Which member of the book group do you trust the most? That’s the person who’s fucking your partner.
The characters in the novel have a tradition when they gather for meals: they draw lots for random seats and, after pouring the first drink, pass their glasses “twice to the left.” Perform this trust exercise with the reading group right now. Rotate your drinks to the member immediately to your left; do it one more time. Now, finish them all at once.
Did the person to your left decline to participate? Or accidentally spill their drink? Come on, pull your head out of your ass. You know. You fucking know.
The novel ends without anyone being prosecuted, suggesting the killer was justified in murdering their partner’s lover. Seriously, what are you going to do?
Had a tiny spark over the weekend and literally wrote this on scratch paper during breaks at work. Just in case: no, this novel (at least as I’ve referenced here) does not exist. Please don’t kill anyone. Release the files.
This is both dark in the brand I love from you and it made mom laugh. Congrats. It's a good day.
Brilliant! And I have that exact typewriter in my collection!