Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Babylonia by Costanza Casati

1. At the beginning of Babylonia, Semiramis tries to rescue the area's governor (for a fee). She fails, and the man is impaled in the center of her village. When the square is empty, she approaches the body and carefully cleans the blood from its face. Why do you suppose she takes this action? How do you think this scene set the stage for the rest of the novel?
2. Semiramis's successes are minimized from childhood. She's called a witch and a whore, manipulative and power-hungry, among other things. Are there any characters, in your opinion, who truly see her accomplishments? Why do you believe women's contributions have generally been undervalued throughout history? Has this changed over time, in your opinion?
3. Nisat tells Ninus, "Strength and understanding are the two qualities that make a king. People usually believe that wisdom and knowledge can be learned, but people are fools. It is strength that can be learned. One has understanding or one doesn't." What do you think she means by this statement? Do you agree with her assessment?
4. The author writes, "Can we grasp the instant when our fate turns? Or can we understand it only later, once the moment grows into a memory?" What do you think? Do you have a moment when your fate turned, and did you know it at the time?
5. Ninus quotes his father: "A woman's love and a man's duty…There comes a point in our lives when every one of us must choose. And there is only one right choice to make." Which characters choose love over duty, in your opinion? Do they make the right choice? How would the story be different had they chosen otherwise?
6. While Babylonia is based on ancient histories very little is truly known about Semiramis's life and reign. What do you think of the way the author filled in the gaps, and how she depicted her heroine and those around her?
7. Had you heard of Semiramis before reading Babylonia? What did you learn about the time period from the novel?
8. Onnes, Ninus and Semiramis play a variant of "truth or dare" together, where the first question they ask is what each fears; Onnes responds "madness," while Semiramis replies "helplessness." What did you think of this scene? How do you feel their characters were illuminated by their answers, and how did this play out in the rest of the novel? How would you answer the question?
9. Ninus thinks, "Desire is a strange thing. What makes us want one person over another? Is it the memory of the past, the excitement of the present, or the promise of the future?" Do you think Onnes, Ninus and Semiramis exhibit desire, and if so, what do you think makes them want one person over another? How would you answer his question?
10. Ribat believes that "The gods bestow different gifts on different people." What gifts do you think Semiramis, Ninus and Onnes possess? What gifts do you think you have?
11. In an exchange between Semiramis and Nisat, Nisat states she finds that "the less people have been given in life, the more eager they are to prove themselves." Do you think Nisat's statement holds true? Which characters, do you think, are trying to prove themselves? To whom?
12. When questioned, Sasi says he believes that fate "always leads us where we are meant to be." What do you think of this statement? Do you agree? How much control do the characters have over their fates?
13. Which minor character intrigued you the most, and why?
14. Semiramis asks Ribat, "What do you do when you want something you know you can't have?" He says he thinks of the bad consequences that will ensue. What did you think of this advice? Why do you suppose it didn't help Semiramis? What advice would you have given her?
15. Semiramis tells Sasi that an ally's greatest quality is loyalty, but he disagrees, saying it's honesty instead. What did you think of his reply? With which character would you agree and why?
16. Sasi tells Semiramis that he believes she loved Onnes, "But do you think that in our world, love can ever be a strength?" How would you answer him? Do any of the characters truly experience love, in your opinion?
17. Is there a quote or scene in the novel that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
18. If you read the author's previous novel, Clytemnestra, how did the two compare?
19. What audience would you recommend Babylonia to? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
20. Overall, what did you think of Babylonia? (no spoilers, please!)

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