This Is the Only Kingdom Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for This Is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Díaz.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How does the setting of el Caserío, Puerto Rico, influence Maricarmen’s aspirations and worldview?
- What role does Rey el Cantante play in the community, and how does this affect Maricarmen's perception of him?
- Do you think Maricarmen was right to envision a life with Rey beyond the barrio, or should she have focused more on the community's reality?
- How does Tito's presence in Maricarmen and Rey's life shape the dynamics of their family?
- What impact does the murder investigation have on Maricarmen and Nena's relationship with their community?
- In what ways does Nena's exploration of her sexual identity affect her journey throughout the novel?
- How do you interpret the generational grief that Maricarmen and Nena experience?
- Discuss the narrative structure of the book. How does the timeline enhance or detract from your understanding of the characters' development?
- Have you ever experienced a community that felt as tight-knit and complex as the one depicted in this novel? How did it compare?
- What are your thoughts on the novel's ending? Do you feel a sense of closure for Maricarmen and Nena, or does their story seem unresolved?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
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