The Paying Guests, Sarah Waters

The Paying Guests

By Sarah Waters

 

(Tansley Reads Rating: 41%)

Icebreaker

We’ve likely all had experiences being guests in someone else’s home for more than a day.  What adjustments to your regular routine do you have to make?  Or, as a hostess, what accommodations do you have to make with overnight guests in your home?

 

Questions

 

1.  Why did the Wrays keep the house after Mr. Wray had died when they were so poor?

 

2.  Frances' brothers Noel and John/Jack are mentioned throughout the book, but their characters and stories are not really developed. What is the purpose of mentioning them more that once and also of Edith's visit to the Wray’s to tell them of her engagement and upcoming marriage?

                     

3.  What was/were your first impression(s) of the Barber’s marriage?

 

4.  Why did Frances tell Lilian of her affair “with a woman” very early in their friendship 

 

5.  July 1 is a turning point in the story for each of the three main characters: Frances, Lilian and Len. How might the story have unfolded if the police had been called when Len was assaulted by Spencer?

 

6.  What do you think Lilian’s true character is?  Is it the shocked seduced or seducing housewife, or, is it a scheming murderer?

                     

7.  It didn’t take Frances and Lillian long to decide to get rid of Len’s body to cover up the murder.  What do you think would have happened if had they had decided to contact the police instead?

 

8.  Do you think they would have ever confessed to what they had done if Spencer Ward had been found guilty?

 

9.  Why did Frances start to doubt Lilian?

 

10.  On page 429 – Mrs. Wray is talking to Frances about the murder and Frances denies keeping any information from the police.  Mrs. Wray says “I want to believe you Frances.  But all your life you’ve had these – these queer enthusiasms.”  What do you think Mrs. Wray was thinking?

                     

11.  Do you think their affair would have lasted if Leonard hadn’t been killed?

 

12.  Did you "like" any of the characters in this book? If yes, which one and why?

 

13. Would the story have been any different if it hadn’t been a lesbian affair, but rather a heterosexual one?

 

14. What did you think of the ending?  How would you have changed it?

 

15:  Quick round: What did you think of the book? Is there anything you want to discuss that we missed?