Tell Me Everything

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of including a murder investigation in the book, a departure from Strout’s usual style?

2. Discuss the simplicity of Strout’s writing style and her propensity for understated observations that focus on the nuances of human relationships.

3. Discuss how the book fits into the Amgash, Illinois series context and the intersection of familiar characters from Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton, and The Burgess Boys. If you have not read these works, what other novels would you compare this one to?

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

1. Reflect on the characters’ desires to impact the world. What does the word “legacy” mean to you?

2. Do you agree with Lucy and Olive’s conclusion that a person’s life must be documented for it to matter? Analyze their “unrecorded life” theory.

3. Discuss how different types of love are explored through the various characters. How do the characters’ experiences compare to the varying forms of love you’ve experienced, especially throughout different seasons of life?