Paradise Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for Paradise by Toni Morrison.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- What do you think motivated the men from Ruby to assault the Convent, and do you find their reasoning justified?
- How do the events at the Convent reflect the broader themes of community and isolation in the novel?
- Discuss the role of the Oven in the town of Ruby. How does it symbolize the town’s history and the changes it undergoes?
- Consider the significance of the setting in Oklahoma. How does the location impact the narrative and the characters' experiences?
- How does Toni Morrison use the structure of the novel, particularly the non-linear timeline, to reveal the story and its themes?
- What role do the women at the Convent play in challenging the traditional gender roles depicted in the town of Ruby?
- Discuss the impact of the ancestral origins of Ruby from 1890 on the town’s identity and actions in 1976.
- Do you think the women of the Convent are portrayed as victims, or do they hold power in their own right? Why?
- How did you feel about the ending of the novel and the fates of the characters involved?
- Have you ever experienced or witnessed a community grappling with internal conflict similar to that in Ruby? How did it impact you or the community involved?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
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