Binds That Tie is ideal for book clubs because it questions whether you can truly escape your past.
Below are some suggested book club discussion questions regarding Binds That Tie.
They may contain mild spoilers, so please do not read unless you’ve read the book:
1. Both Chris and Maggie have pasts that “chase them” and contribute to their decision making. Do you think this is true for everyone? Are there ways to resolve your past transgressions so that they don’t fundamentally alter who you are? Are we just simply a compilation of our human histories? Do you think there was any way for Chris to reconcile his past with Derek Manchester? Could he have tried harder?
2. Why do you think Maggie leaves town at the end? Do you think there was another way out for her?
3. Maggie and Jake have a tumultuous history. Do you think Jake felt as strongly for Maggie as she did for him? Do you think Maggie loved both Jake and Chris? Why or why not? Do you think Jake loved both Maggie and Miranda?
4. Maggie says that liked to “buff the edges of his life to a smooth curve”. Have you known people like this? Do you think this amiability is an positive or negative personality trait? Do you think his fear of getting “messy” in life keep him from fully engaging in his relationships (with Miranda, with Chris, with Maggie)?
5. What did you think of Maggie’s parents? Do you think their parenting accounts for her decisions and behavior?
6. Maggie says “some of the most beautiful people in the world are lonely”. What do you think of this? Do you think this is true? In our society, we tend to believe that if we were only [thinner, prettier, had longer hair, less wrinkles] than our lives would be perfect, and yet, Maggie was objectively beautiful. Everyone said so. Yet, she seemed deeply unhappy. Discuss.
7. Why do you think Maggie is driven to flirt with Logan? Do you think the punishment fits the crime in this case?
8. Who was more culpable in the murder of Logan May? Why do you think Maggie and Chris blamed each other?
9. Do you think Chris’ fear of authority was well-founded? Do you think his description of the justice system is accurate?
10. The conclusion of the book is fairly open ended, or is it? Did you feel like the plot resolved itself in the most logical way? What would have been better justice for Chris and Maggie?
Below are some suggested book club discussion questions regarding Binds That Tie.
They may contain mild spoilers, so please do not read unless you’ve read the book:
1. Both Chris and Maggie have pasts that “chase them” and contribute to their decision making. Do you think this is true for everyone? Are there ways to resolve your past transgressions so that they don’t fundamentally alter who you are? Are we just simply a compilation of our human histories? Do you think there was any way for Chris to reconcile his past with Derek Manchester? Could he have tried harder?
2. Why do you think Maggie leaves town at the end? Do you think there was another way out for her?
3. Maggie and Jake have a tumultuous history. Do you think Jake felt as strongly for Maggie as she did for him? Do you think Maggie loved both Jake and Chris? Why or why not? Do you think Jake loved both Maggie and Miranda?
4. Maggie says that liked to “buff the edges of his life to a smooth curve”. Have you known people like this? Do you think this amiability is an positive or negative personality trait? Do you think his fear of getting “messy” in life keep him from fully engaging in his relationships (with Miranda, with Chris, with Maggie)?
5. What did you think of Maggie’s parents? Do you think their parenting accounts for her decisions and behavior?
6. Maggie says “some of the most beautiful people in the world are lonely”. What do you think of this? Do you think this is true? In our society, we tend to believe that if we were only [thinner, prettier, had longer hair, less wrinkles] than our lives would be perfect, and yet, Maggie was objectively beautiful. Everyone said so. Yet, she seemed deeply unhappy. Discuss.
7. Why do you think Maggie is driven to flirt with Logan? Do you think the punishment fits the crime in this case?
8. Who was more culpable in the murder of Logan May? Why do you think Maggie and Chris blamed each other?
9. Do you think Chris’ fear of authority was well-founded? Do you think his description of the justice system is accurate?
10. The conclusion of the book is fairly open ended, or is it? Did you feel like the plot resolved itself in the most logical way? What would have been better justice for Chris and Maggie?
