To Paradise

David Bingham chooses to trust Edward’s claims about his past instead of the information that his grandfather’s investigator uncovered. Is he justified in this decision? If Edward is telling the truth, why do these discrepancies exist? Does David still doubt Edward when he chooses to leave New York with him? Is Edward’s character the most important factor in David’s decision to leave his home?

The action in Book 2, Part 1 takes place over two days, spanning Peter’s goodbye party and the events of the following morning. How does the party create opportunities to develop Charles and David’s characters and their relationship? How does Peter’s impending death connect to themes from David’s past and Wika’s narrative? Why do you think David delays reading the letter from his grandmother until after the party is over?

In what way is Wika’s relationship with his mother similar to, or different from, David Bingham’s relationship with his grandfather in Book 1? Does Wika’s lineage make him more or less secure in his identity and sense of self? Why does Wika fall so deeply under the spell of Edward Bishop, and why does this bond persist over time?

Dr. Charles Griffith (“C”) believes that containment and relocation centers are ultimately forces for good, as they prevent the spread of disease and limit casualties. How does his training as a scientist impact his viewpoint? How do his beliefs impact his relationships with his son and his husband, and should he have tried harder to see their point of view?

Charlie often feels disappointed and even betrayed by her marriage. Why does she agree to the marriage, and why does her grandfather think it is important for her to get married? Could Charlie and Edward’s marriage have been different if they had been more transparent with one another? In the end, did they love one another in their own way?

Why does Charlie choose to believe David and attempt to escape from America? How is her attempted flight similar to, or different from, David Bingham’s decision to leave New York in Book 1? What is the impact of Charlie’s fate being left ambiguous at the end of the novel?

Yanagihara reuses the names of characters across the three sections of the novel. Choose one name (for example, David, Edward, or Charles), and compare and contrast the characters with this name. How are they similar to, or different from, one another? Do the names develop parallels across the different books?

Each of the novel’s three books is named after a location that functions as a key setting (Washington Square, Lipo-wao-nahele, Zone Eight). How are these three locations similar to, or different from, each other? How do each of these locations create and enforce restrictions, and why do characters ultimately try to leave? Could any of these settings be viewed as “paradise”?