"Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty by USO OVBC

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USO Indo-Pacific and USO Europe | Middle East | Africa will host our monthly Overseas Virtual Book Club discussing "Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty on August 8th at 2000 JST on Zoom

Stay up to date with the Overseas Virtual Book Club by joining our Facebook Group: USO Overseas Virtual Book Club

Register here:

https://register.uso.org/4111BMB7/4a3I8XJUXX

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Post Event Survey

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USO OVBC Intros

Current Reads

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What are you currently reading?

Book Recommendations

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Any book recommendations to share with us?

SAMHSA’s National Helpline

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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

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National Hopeline Network: Suicide & Crisis Hotline

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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

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About Liane | Liane Moriarty

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Books

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Children's Books

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Facebook

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What was your initial reaction after finishing the book?

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With which person of the spa did you connect most? Why?

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To which of the spa guests did you least relate? Why?

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What did you think about Masha’s character development? Was it plausible?

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What would you do if you found yourself in the shoes of the spa guests when locked in the room?

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How would you respond after being released from the room?

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Did some of the scenes make you laugh? Which ones? Why?

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In the book, there are quite a few commentaries about women and their self-loathing, especially directed toward their bodies: “Women and their bodies! The most abusive and toxic relationships. Masha had seen women pinch at the flesh of their stomachs with such brutal self-loathing they left bruises. Meanwhile their husbands fondly patted their own much larger stomachs with rueful pride.” Do you think this is true? Why is it that men and women have such different relationships with their bodies?

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The novel sometimes portrays men as imperious, as when Frances remembered her first boyfriend and how she apologized for having small breasts, and he accepted her apology. Frances’s mother was a feminist, so “she couldn’t blame her upbringing for her pathetic behavior.” What do you think happened there? Why do you think women apologize so much?

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Do you think it is important that Masha is a foreigner and that perhaps being new to the society allows her to view its norms in a way that someone growing up there might not be able to do? Think about our status as members of the military community. Are we like Marsha? Are we able to look at aforeign society from the outside looking in?

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What did you think of Zach’s suicide? Do you think it was because of his asthma medication? Was Heather wrong not to tell Napoleon about the possible link to his medication after she discovered it?

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In chapter 26, Napoleon thinks,”He’d been too you and happy to know that love wasn’t enough; too young to know all the ways that life could break you.” Do you agree with him? Do you think this is a question of age, or do you think one needs a true tragedy in their life before they can feel this way?

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In chapter 6 its says, “Frances had struggled to explain that strangers were by definition interesting. It was their strangeness. The not-knowing. Once you knew everything there was to know about someone, you were generally ready to divorce them.” Do you think Frances felt remorse about her two divorces? Lateron, Tony says about his wife and divorce:

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“Wasn’t it possible they both took each other for granted? Wasn’t it possible that taking each other for granted was one of the benefits of marriage?” What point do you think the author is trying to make about marriage? Do you believe marriages can last? Do you think Napoleon and Heather’s marriage will last?

Frances says in chapter 8, “No, no, I’m not a woman of age and circumstance! I am me! You’re not seeing me!” Do you think the author is trying to make a point about women in middle age and invisibility? Do you think these nine characters are really looking for transformation? What does transformation mean to you? Do you think it is possible?

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What do you think of Carmel’s character? Did you like her more or less at the end of the novel? Why?

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Were there any characters you believed you had figured out only to discover they were more complicated than you had initially thought?

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Masha thinks to herself in chapter 13,” The biggest compliment you could give a successful woman was to describe her as ‘humble.’” Do you agree? Do you think society finds successful women threatening, but successful men attractive?

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What do you think about the end of the book and Masha? Were you surprised to find out that she had children of her own? Do you think your opinion of her would be the same if she was a man who had left her family?

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Lars and Masha are the only characters who seem to have professional ambition. But with Lars, we see that he is driven by revenge against his father. What do you think motivates Masha?

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Do you think the author is trying to make a point by having Masha, arguably the most intimidating and strongest (and weakest) character, be a woman? In chapter 76, her ex-husband thinks of her as “awoman with the strength to move mountains….a woman as weak as a child.” What do you think he meant here? What do you make of her? Does the end of the novel make you view her differently?

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Healing and transformation; suicide; relationships; use of drugs; these are some of the topics we find in this novel. Which characters portrays or introduces which topic? Are there any others you discovered and like to discuss?

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Was everyone transformed through their stay at Tranquillum House?

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Military OneSource: Suicide Awareness

If you had the opportunity, would you visit a psychedelic wellness retreat? Why or why not?

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Did you suspect the various reasons for each of the "Nine Perfect Strangers" staying at Tranquillum?

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Who was your favorite character? Who was your least favorite character?

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Which couple relationship development did you like the best?

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Who did you think shot Masha?

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Have you ever had a near death experience?

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If you attempted to reach out to a loved one beyond the grave, who would it be and what would you say to them?

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What differences did you notice between the series and the book? Did it make the series better or worse in your opinion?

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What are your predictions for season 2?

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Did you enjoy the Hulu Series? Would you have preferred a movie adaptation?

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Character Guide

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