Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. As you read the dramatic opening scene, what were your theories about the backstory behind the fatal showdown between Henry Tong and Roger Gao? How did the opulence and the outrageousness set the tone for the rest of the novel?
2. Do men have more power than women within the families and societies of Lies and Weddings? Or is gender irrelevant, with power being derived through other factors?
3. When a vile fashion editor assumes that Eden is a hotel staffer, Eden is reminded that the English village where she grew up was a haven from the realities of racism. How does she navigate the world of prejudice and elitism? In what circumstances do Augie, Bea, and Rufus suffer less because they are biracial?
4. Despite the appearance of wealth, Lord Greshamsbury (Francis) and Prince Julius zu Liechtenburg are both facing financial ruin. What protections do their respective nobility and royalty bestow? In some ways, do their titles become more of a burden than a benefit?
5. Rufus is caught between his mother's expectations and his true self. How does he balance being dutiful with finding fulfillment? Ultimately, what is the basis for his authentic identity: Ancestry? Affluence? Ability? How does Rufus compare to Gopal Das (a.k.a. Whitney Payne Cabot V) in creating an identity? Is being American an advantage for Gopal Das?
6. Despite the great expense and opulence of their wedding, Maxxie and Augie could not prevent the volcanic eruption. But could they have prevented the circumstances that immediately put their marriage on the rocks?
7. Eden shares common ground with Freddy, whose Iranian mother died when he was younger. How are Eden and Freddy shaped by the loss of a parent and by their global upbringing? What similar disappointments do they experience in the quest for true love?
8. Everything Lady Arabella does is a calculated move. Is she motivated by an understandable quest to survive and look out for her children, or are her motivations evil? Why is she unable to have a truly loving parent-child relationship like the one Thomas created with Eden? By the same turn, what is at the root of Luis Felipe's destructive bent—including the destruction of any emotional connection to his father? What does the novel say about creating loving bonds within a family?
9. If you were Eden, would you have accepted Luis Felipe's invitation if it meant a mega payoff for you, your loved ones, or a charity?
10. Like a trusted guide and true friend, Kevin Kwan uses chatty footnotes to provide us with insider details. What were the most fascinating tidbits you discovered? How would you answer the question he asks at the bottom of page 70: "Where do you rank and what sort of feelings does this bring up?"
11. Echoing the many real-world, tragic natural disasters experienced in recent years, the destruction at Bellaloha demonstrates natural forces that overrule the most carefully laid human plans. In a similar thread, Rene receives excellent medical treatment but is ultimately at the mercy of his illness. In the novel, what other examples did you see of problems that money can't solve?
12. Discuss the biggest lies lurking in the novel's storylines. Which revelations surprised you the most? What is at the heart of these lies? Who or what is being served by such carefully guarded falsehoods? Would it have been less painful to learn to live with the truth?
13. How are Eden and Rufus transformed by their southwestern road trip? Does it measure up to the glamorous jet-setting they did previously?
14. As you experienced the various wedding locales and venues (including nuptials in a hot-air balloon), which one appealed to you the most? If you could have an unlimited budget for your wedding ceremony, what features would you choose? As a guest, what was the best wedding you ever attended, and what made it so enjoyable?
15. The novel's Hong Kong flashbacks precede the 1997 return of authority over Hong Kong to China after more than 150 years as a British colony. What do you predict for the future of British prestige? Is Martha Dung the new face of status and power in our real world? How will the next generation of global wealth evolve?
16. How does Lies and Weddings amplify the decadence of other novels by Kevin Kwan that you have enjoyed? In what ways does this storyline take the ride to a whole new level?

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