1. Graham and Annie are very different people. What attracts them to each other?

2. Do you think they have a good marriage?

3. Graham is portrayed as a gregarious, likable person. Does his infidelity influence or change your opinion of him?

4. One underlying theme of the novel is the preservation of self in a committed relationship. Do you think Annie sacrifices her identity to this marriage? Does Graham give up anything?

5. Annie is a photographer. What does this choice of profession tell us about her?

6. Discuss Annie’s relationship with her daughter, Sarah. Do you think their relationship changes or evolves over the years? Do you think they are giving each other what they need, either as a mother-daughter relationship or otherwise?

7. Sarah says Annie is “unreadable.” Would you agree?

8. Contrast Graham and Annie’s marriage with the marriage of Lucas and Jeanne. How do you account for the differences?

9. What did you make of Annie’s reaction when she found Graham dead beside her in bed?

10. When we learn unpleasant truths about those who have died, how do we process that information and come to terms with our conflicted memories?

11. For a time, Annie focuses on the memories of her childhood friend, Sofie Kahn. What does this tell us about what she is going through?

12. What do you think of Annie’s relationship with Graham’s ex-wife, Frieda.

13. How does the reunion between Annie and Ian Pedersen drive the final outcome of the novel? What does Annie gain or lose from the encounter?

14. Do you think the title “Monogamy” is meant to be emblematic or ironic?