1. How would you describe Maggie's house arrest? Is it just political, or does it operate on another level? If so, how?

2. Morri was actually arrested in Cuba so there is an autobiographical component to this book. Where do you think the truth ends and the story begins? What clues do you have that this is the case?

3. Why do you think Morri chose to deal with this material in a novel rather than as a work of nonfiction?

4. In telling these multilayered stories of women Morri use monologues. What function do these serve?

5. La isla is based on Cuba, yet Morri never calls it Cuba. How is or isn't la isla Cuba, and why do you think Morri chose not to name it?

6. Maggie is taking a definite risk in helping Isabel. Why does she take such a risk?

7. What do the different voices contribute to how we read this story? How do they help us interpret la isla?