Book Club Meeting

Jocasta is just fifteen when she is told that she must marry the King of Thebes, an old man she has never met. Her life has never been her own, and nor will it be, unless she outlives her strange, absent husband.

Ismene is the same age when she is attacked in the palace she calls home. Since the day of her parents' tragic deaths a decade earlier, she has always longed to feel safe with the family she still has. But with a single act of violence, all that is about to change. With the turn of these two events, a tragedy is set in motion. But not as you know it.

The Children of Jocasta" by Natalie Haynes reimagines the story of Oedipus and Jocasta, focusing on Jocasta's perspective and the experiences of her children, Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polynices. The book explores themes of fate, family secrets, and the consequences of past actions, prompting readers to consider the impact of myth on individual lives.

1.    Did you enjoy reading this book?

 2.    What are Jocasta's motivations throughout the novel? How do they change over time?

 3.    How does Jocasta's experience of motherhood differ from that of other characters in the story?

 4.    What does the novel suggest about the role of women in ancient Thebes?

5.    How does Jocasta's relationship with Oedipus evolve throughout the story? What are the key turning points?

6.    How do the characters' relationships contribute to the overall tragedy of the story?

7.    How does the novel challenge or subvert traditional interpretations of the Oedipus myth?

8.    What does the novel suggest about the nature of fate, free will, and destiny?

9.    What is the overall tone or mood of the novel? How does it affect your reading experience?