1. When the two women meet, Deborah Laidlaw is depicted as a mainstream mother and wife with many friends and ties within the community. Yet she becomes best friends with Toby Ruben, a prickly and strange newcomer. Why do you think she chooses Toby? What qualities about Toby attracted Deborah?

2. The author always refers to the main character as "Ruben," the character's last name. But when others address her, they call her "Toby," her first name. Why do you think the author chose to refer to her this way? Did it affect your feelings toward Toby Ruben (i.e. make you feel more or less intimate with her?)

3. The saying goes: "With friends like these, who needs enemies?" Twice, Toby Ruben sabotages her best friend's employment by telling her bosses that she doesn't think Deborah is a good teacher. Why does Toby do this? Is it a breach of friendship? How do you think they continue to be friends after these episodes? Could you?

4. Toby Ruben is accused by her best friend Deborah of having a "kindness deficit." But ultimately she ends up taking care of a cantankerous old woman. Is Toby truly unkind?

5. Toby Ruben does not have a strong sense of sympathy for others. Why do you think the story of The Trolley Girl was painful for her to read?

6. The anarchist, rabble-rousing sculptor Berry Cooper/Gussie Lipnick jumps from the pages of the long-borrowed book The Trolley Girl into real life just at the time when Toby needs her most. Why do you think the troublesome Berry Cooper is an antidote to Deborah's death? Have you ever experienced a coincidence that changed your life?

7. After Deborah's death, the rumor surfaces that she had a lover who she was on her way to meet when her car crashed. Deborah had never told Toby about this. Do you think it was true? Why or why not?

8. Husbands and children are secondary characters in The Book Borrower-in fact, Deborah speaks of wanting to keep husbands out of their friendship. Why did Deborah loan Toby her husband's favorite book? What was the nature of Toby and Jeremiah's relationship?