Hidden Pictures

1. General Impressions

 Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Were you surprised about the revelation of the Maxwells’ secret? Looking back, what clues might have tipped you to the truth of Ted and Caroline’s relationship to Teddy/Flora?
• Draw comparisons between Hidden Pictures and the classic Gothic horror novel The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Where do these books overlap and where do they diverge from another?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

 Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• Have you ever participated in a séance? What was the experience like? If you haven’t tried it yet, discuss whether or not you are open to the possibility of trying it.
• Have you ever had a hobby that you had to distance yourself from for any particular reason? Discuss this experience to understand Mallory’s complex relationship with running. 
• The novel begins with a scene that comments on women’s relationship to the male gaze. How does the experiment that Mallory participates in make you feel? If you are a woman, do you think you would be able to achieve the same result of accuracy as Mallory?
• What is your relationship to religion, whether organized or not? Do you reject religion as the Maxwells do or do you, like Mallory, maintain a loose relationship with religion to support your ability to engage with the world around you?

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