The Reading List, by Sara Nisha Adams

 

Characters
Aleisha – working at library Aiden – dropped out of school to care for mother Leilah – mother, ill Dean – father, new life and family   Zac Lowe – law student, guy on train   Mia – Aleisha’s friend   Mukesh Naina – wife, deceased Rohini, Deepali, Vritti – daughters Priya, Jaya and Jayesh – grandchildren   Nilakshi – Naina’s best friend, lost both husband and son in accident   Harish – Mukesh’s friend Meena – wife   Nasseem – neighbor Noor - daughter   Harrow Road Library Aleisha Dev “Thermos Flask Dev” – manager Kyle Benny Chris “Crime Thriller Guy” Lucy - volunteer	Found or given reading list
	Aleisha – found list in copy of To Kill a Mockingbird returned by “Crime Thriller Guy,” shared titles with Mukesh   Chris – found list on library table under a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird with a note Melanie – girlfriend, relationship ended   Indira Patel – found list in shoe space at the mandir   Lenora – found list on board at yoga studio Helena – sister   Izzy – found list on street, collects lists   Joseph – given list by library patron, bullied   Gigi – found list in supermarket

 

For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from hardback edition.

1.       As you were reading, who do you think wrote the list?

2.       When Mukesh went to the charity walk, he carried a copy of Rebecca with him. He thought about how Naina “used to carry a book with her wherever she was, in case she got stuck in a lift on her own…” (page 126).  Did you relate to this idea?

3.       Izzy collected lists and made-up stories about the people who wrote them.  Do you make lists?  If someone found one of your lists, what would it tell them about you?

 

4.       Discuss Mukesh’s friendship and relationship with Nilakshi, Naina’s best friend.   Were you surprised at his daughters’ reactions?

5.       The novel dealt with many serious issues (grief, loneliness, caring for a sick parent, suicide, bullying) in addition to the positive power of reading.  Did you find the book sad or uplifting, or both?

6.       Could anything have been done to help Aidan?  Would adding him to the book list recipients have helped?

7.       How did the books on the list help the different people who found it?

8.       At least both Mukesh and Aleisha saw or imagined the characters from the various books during their regular days.   Has this ever happened to you?

9.       Is there a book that you have read several times during your life?  Did it mean different things to you at different ages?

10.   Which books have you read from the list?  Did you think they were powerful enough to be included on the list?  Are there any others you would recommend?