The Ash Family
The Ash Family Book Club Questions
Did you read all of the book? Part of it? Or none of it?
What is your initial impression of the book? Did you like it or dislike it? Why?
Did you find Berie relatable? Why/why not?
What did you think of Berie’s views of herself? Of her mother? Of the world?
Berie’s self-harming behaviors and lack of care for her physical well-being was concerning to me. What did you think about it?
Do you know anyone who self-harms? What do you know about the subject?
The rules–which ones struck you as absurd or silly? Why?
Which of the rules struck you as meaningful or important in their group ethos? Why?
Why did the leader insist on the rules? For everyone else but him?
Why did the family follow the rules?
Could you live by the rules? Why/why not?
Was the Ash Family a commune or a cult?
Look at the warning sings of a potentially unsafe group/leader at https://culteducation.com/warningsigns.html. Does the Ash Family fit any of these? Which one(s)?
Any other groups that you can think of that also fit them?
Have you read any other books about communes or cults? Which ones? (Helter Skelter, The Girls, etc.)
How did this book compare to the others that you’ve read?
The book was a debut novel. Does knowing this change your impressions of it in any way? Why/why not?
Would you read other books by this author? Why/why not?
What did you think of the length of the book? If too short, what would you add? If too long, what would you cut?
If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast?
If you could hear the story from another character’s perspective, who would you choose? Why?