Book Club Discussion Questions for 'The Book of Two Ways' by Jodi Picoult
The Book of Two Ways is a story about complex family ties and the importance of recognizing our bonds to those we love. Jodi Picoult’s story unfolds as she develops the main character, Dawn’s, two possible futures side by side. Along with those futures unspooling so do her secrets and doubts she has long since buried. It’s hard to put this book down because of its mix of Egyptian history and the depiction we’ve all faced a least once - a fork in the road which leads to two very different outcomes. As the reader you will ask yourself, Do we make choices or do our choices make us?
Discussion Guide
Why do you think Jodi used the title The Book of Two Ways? In what ways does the title have multiple meanings?
So we’re led to believe for a majority of the book that Dawn is almost in a multiverse situation—one where she chooses to go back home to her family and the other, where she goes to Egypt to reconnect with her work and Wyatt. Which storyline were you most engaged with and why?
Have you ever made a pivotal choice in your life and wondered what if you had made a different choice?
If you somehow had a choice like Dawn to be able to reconnect with your past, in the present, would you do so?
Why do you think Dawn couldn’t let go of Egypt and Wyatt?
The author provides a ton of detail about Egyptology—did you like how in-depth she went or was it a bit much for you? And on that note, would you ever want to go to Egypt?
Did you know about death doulas prior to reading the story?
A central theme of the story is death—from Dawn’s research in Egyptian history to her work as a death doula. Why do you think Dawn was drawn to this area?
Let’s talk about Dawn’s relationship with Brian. Was she ever in love with him or was he more there to provide comfort and stability?
Were you surprised at the reveal that Wyatt is actually the father of her daughter Meret?
And this is where we find out there aren’t multiverses happening but the story is told out of order—after the reveal of Meret’s paternity, Dawn eventually ends up in Egypt, which is the Egypt storyline we’ve been following the entire time. Did this reveal catch you off guard or could you tell where the story was going all along?
The book asks: "Who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now?" If you had to pinpoint the one person or thing you left behind, what or who would it be? Do you wonder: What if? How might your life be different if you had taken that different route?
Had you ever heard of a death doula before reading The Book of Two Ways? What did you think of this care practice and the way it is incorporated in the novel?
Both Egyptian mythology and quantum physics are explored in the book, and they are often presented as two opposites in Dawn’s life. Do you think they're as different as Dawn perceives them to be, or are there ways in which they actually overlap?
In what ways do Dawn’s two potential careers mirror each other?
Do you think Dawn’s decision not to return to Egypt after her mother passes away is ultimately a selfish or a selfless choice?
Dawn and her daughter, Meret, have a close but challenging relationship. What do you think causes them to clash so often? What do they learn from one another by the end of the book?
Picoult plays with the idea of parallel universes and alternate timelines as we see Dawn’s narrative unravel in both Boston and in Egypt. Were you surprised when it became clear which timeline Dawn truly exists in?
What responsibility do you think Brian and Wyatt each hold for how Dawn’s path in life progressed?
Do you think it’s possible to experience multiple loves, as Dawn and Win both describe?
What did you think of Dawn’s decision to deliver Win’s painting to Thane Bernard?
The novel also explores the concept of fate versus free will. Do you think we determine our own destiny through our choices, or are we always heading toward the same fate no matter which path we take to get there (as The Book of Two Ways suggests)?
If you were in Dawn’s shoes, would you choose to stay with Brian or to pursue a life with Wyatt? Or is there another path you would take instead?
What do you think makes for a good legacy? Are certain things—like one’s career, contributions to science or culture, or family—weighed more heavily than others when considering what constitutes a "good life"?
Ending time! So let’s first talk about our thoughts on why the author left the ending a cliffhanger. Who and which life, do you think Dawn chose in the end and why? Is she better suited for Wyatt or Brian?
What are you reading next?
Julia Blanchard is a content contributor for JUGs by night, by day she works a Senior Technical Program Manager at HERE Technologies. You can follow her @jcblanchard6 on Instagram.
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