Book Club Activities (Caution: Implied Spoilers)

Want to read The Carlyles in your book club, or maybe you just like homework? Well, here is the Official Book Club Supplement to the novel!

PLEASE TAKE HEED: The following questions and activities reference the novel’s characters and major plot developments. Please wait to finish the book before reading the rest of this page. Unless that’s not important to you, in which case, have at it.

The authors would LOVE to video conference into your book club! If interested, please contact bleicherandnewton@gmail.com.

Cover art for The Carlyles: A Novel, by Michael Bleicher and Andy Newton

Discussion Questions

  • How do you think Harold and Pattie got together in the first place? Why do you think they stay together? 

  • How would you feel if you were Pattie?

  • What do you think first attracts Pattie to Nathaniel? What changes, if anything? Do you think Pattie should have left Harold?

  • How do you think Pattie’s and Harold’s relationships with their respective parents shaped their personalities?

  • How would you compare and contrast Harold and Anthony? 

  • If you were on Pattie’s jury, how would you vote?

  • How would you compare and contrast Harold and Elena?

  • When Pattie and Harold fought about the terms and execution of their open relationship, who did you agree with more?

  • Which characters in the novel aren’t con artists in some form? Are some of them worse than others, and why? Discuss the role of deception in the novel.

  • Is there a moral center among the characters?

  • Discuss the role of law enforcement in the novel. How would you compare A.D.A. Mammoni and Detective Paris to Agents MacDougal and Hines?

  • What do you think about Pattie’s reading of that Happy Days episode (Ch. 17)?

  • Which character would you most want to have dinner with? Least want to?

  • Among Harold’s many excessive purchases, which one(s) do you think were worth it? Which one(s) would you most like to have?

  • Is Elena good at her job? Would you let her use her left hand to—

Draw Your Relationship

In the novel, Dr. Rothstein advises Harold and Pattie to make tapestries depicting shared memories. Rescue a relationship you’re worried about by drawing a special memory! Remember, it’s okay to write an accompanying song.

Internship at Mia Washington Communications

Imagine you and the Stechlers are meeting with Mia to discuss whether Pattie should stay with Harold. Split into groups for and against staying with Harold and formulate arguments.

Let’s listen!

From Dr. Rothstein’s plethora of performative therapeutic exercises to an informercial for a Time Life CD box set, music is referenced throughout the novel. Enjoy these featured and thematically inspired songs from The Carlyles!

Now It’s Your Turn…

Make a playlist that tells the story of Harold and Pattie’s relationship (a playlist must feature at least 7 songs).

Lesson Plan

Oh, no! You have to teach a class on television criticism at NYU in 15 minutes, but you forgot your course materials. Prepare a quick lesson plan based on your favorite TV shows and the scholarship of Sigmund Freud.