Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Death in the Air by Ram Murali

Book Club Discussion Questions

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Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. When the reader first meets Ro, he is taking refuge in Bermuda from a situation at his job. He reveals during a game of Truth or Joke with Alex and Bronya, who are both strangers at the time, that he has never told anyone about his boss's discriminatory behavior, or that he's thinking of settling his complaint at his job (for a large payout) rather than pursuing it. Why do you think Ro felt comfortable revealing this information to strangers? What influence did this conversation have on the events of the novel, if any
2. Many of the characters we see Ro interact with in Bermuda, London, and Samsara are interconnected and move in the same circles. Is this a coincidence or by design? Discuss the significance of these connections and how you think they played a part in the events of the novel.
3. Ro first uses Pendy, a divination pendulum, when he visits Parvati in Paris, and asks if he will have a mission while he is in India. Do you think the mission Ro took on while in India is the mission Pendy intended? Based on what you deem his mission to be, did he succeed or fail? Discuss why or why not.
4. As the plane takes off to India and Ro begins his journey to Samsara (Location 851), a song plays over the announcements from the pilot as the omniscient narrator foreshadows the events that are about to happen. Similarly, at the end of the book when Ro is leaving Samsara (Location 5658), a song plays on the car radio. Do you see any parallels between the song and the narration? In what ways do these scenes mirror Ro's story arc?
5. Throughout the book, various characters display different levels of mysticism. Bronya sensed a change in Ro's aura when they first met, Mrs. B had a recurring dream of the brakes being tampered in her vehicle, and Ro had a connection with Pendy. Do you believe that these powers were real and influenced the events of the novel or were they just coincidences that simply foreshadowed future events? Discuss the role of mysticism for each of these characters and the plot of the book.
6. Ro has a quite dark sense of humor. He often apologizes for laughing at inappropriate times or makes jokes about death/the dead. How did Ro's humor under these circumstances affect your reactions to him as a protagonist?
7. When Ro confronts the killer, he says "with whatever intuition I have, I do feel like the Universe is satisfied with how this has turned out… I don't think it's my place to judge you." Do you think the universe was satisfied with the outcome, or was Ro projecting? What do you think will happen to the killer after the events of Death in the Air?
8. Several times throughout the book, the Hindu belief in reincarnation is referenced. Do you think this belief influenced the actions of the characters? If so, how did it benefit them? How did it hurt them or others?
9. The Latrine, while only mentioned sporadically, ultimately drives many of Ro's actions throughout Death in the Air. Would Ro still have taken the actions he did if it hadn't been for The Latrine? Why or why not?
10. How did you respond to the end of the book and the end of Ro's story? How does karma play a role in how things resolve for Ro? For Mrs. B? How do you think the final scene mirrors Ro's journey? Who do you think is responsible for the act that sets the final scene in motion?
11. What do you think is the "executive role" Catherine has for Ro? Do you think Ro will take her up on it?
12. At the beginning of the novel, Alex tells Ro, "Maybe revenge would make you feel better." How are justice and revenge the same? How are they different? Reflect on each death in the book: Was it justice or revenge? Do you believe the killer felt better after exacting their plan?
13. Reread the first three chapters of the book. Did you notice any jokes or clues that resonate differently once you finished the book? What stood out to you? What do you notice upon a second reading?

For the full book club kit please refer to the publisher's page.

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