1. In THE STAGER, which character has the firmest grip on reality? Which characters were you rooting for? Whose voice did you enjoy reading the most?

2. The very concept of staging a house --- depersonalizing it so others can imagine themselves living there --- is rich with metaphor. What is the author trying to say about the illusions we create about our lives?

3. What are your theories about Dominique’s location, and his identity? What would he say about your life? Why is a rabbit the ideal focal point for this novel?

4. How does the Unfurlings housing development serve as an apt metaphor for contemporary American culture and our widening economic gap? What do we expect from our dwelling places? What do Bella and her family discover about feeling at home in The Flanders and in the world beyond Bethesda?

5. What does the novel say about the nature of greed and the nature of generosity?

6. Who (if anyone) is to blame for Lars’s downfall? How is his competitive nature different from Bella’s? Why does Lars tolerate Bella’s behavior?

7. In a pivotal scene, Elsa turns on music and dances in the street. What is the meaning of this?

8. After 10 years, Eve remains bitter and resentful toward Bella. How would you have moved forward after experiencing Eve’s misfortunes?

9. How does Eve’s approach to “shelter” shift throughout her life? Does she ultimately prove to be more resilient than Bella?

10. What is at the root of Raymond’s seductive charms? Why does he naturally get everything he wants? Is there any justice in this?

11. Nabila gives hints of her own harrowing personal backstory, but no one ever asks her about her past. Why?

12. What does the hallucinogenic tea reveal about the characters’ true selves and about the nature of novel writing itself?

13. What is unique about Susan Coll’s approach to humor and the human condition? Which scenes made you laugh? How does THE STAGER enhance your enjoyment of the author’s previous novels?

14. If Eve staged your house, what would she have to do to depersonalize it? What original symbolic artwork would she produce as the final touch?