Everything I Never Told You

How does Ng subvert character stereotypes in her novel? You should refer to at least two different characters in your answer.

To what extent has Ng written a crime mystery novel? How does she take the tropes of the traditional crime novel and subvert them?

What role does silence play in Ng’s novel? How does not talking about personal pain contribute to the Lee family’s dysfunction?

What role do books play in the development of Lydia’s character? How does her attitude toward the books she encounters illustrate her increasing inner turmoil?

How do the protagonists of Ng’s novel handle racial difference, and how does this differ from today’s recommended approach? To what extent does Ng present the characters’ approach as helpful, and what alternatives does she propose?

Explore the motif of swimming in the novel. What does this activity represent, and how does it relate to the themes of the novel as a whole?

With close reference to the text, what do you consider Louisa’s role to be in the novel? Why do you think it was so important for Ng to show James’s affair with a woman of the same race as him?

Discuss the symbolism and motif of space in the novel. Why is space a positive concept for Nath but a threatening one for James and Lydia?