Introduction

A debut novel full of magic, adventure, and romance, The Book of Doors opens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers of The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, The Night Circus, and any modern story that mixes the wonder of the unknown with just a tinge of darkness.

Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life. Until the day one of her favorite customers—a lonely yet charming old man—dies right in front of her. Cassie is devastated. She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by. Nothing but the last book he was reading.

But this is no ordinary book…

It is the Book of Doors.

Inscribed with enigmatic words and mysterious drawings, it promises Cassie that any door is every door. You just need to know how to open them.

Then she’s approached by a gaunt stranger in a rumpled black suit with a Scottish brogue who calls himself Drummond Fox. He’s a librarian who keeps watch over a unique set of rare volumes. The tome now in Cassie’s possession is not the only book with great power, but it is the one most coveted by those who collect them.

Now Cassie is being hunted by those few who know of the Special Books. With only her roommate Izzy to confide in, she has to decide if she will help the mysterious and haunted Drummond protect the Book of Doors—and the other books in his secret library’s care—from those who will do evil. Because only Drummond knows where the unique library is and only Cassie’s book can get them there.

But there are those willing to kill to obtain those secrets. And a dark force—in the form of a shadowy, sadistic woman—is at the very top of that list.

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Discussion Questions

Courtesy of Libromaniacs:

1. Regarding The Count of Monte Cristo, Mr. Webber says to Cassie “I’ve read it before, but as I get older, I find comfort in rereading favorites. It’s like spending time with old friends.” Do you receive comfort from re-reading favorite books? If so, what are they?

2. Izzy says that she’s glad that Cassie got the book and she wondered what someone who wasn’t as nice as Cassie would have done with it. Well, The Woman was not only not nice, she was psychopathic. Discuss the ways that the different characters responded to or used the books.

3. Barbary says that collecting the books was “… an arms race to see who could collect the most books and the most power…” Drummond carefully guards the Fox Library, hoping to secure the books away from those who sought power. But, while his intentions seemed good, his own hoarding of the books was also way to exert power and control. How were Drummond’s actions similar to or different from Barbary’s?

4. Drummond says “Where else would I keep special books but in a secret room at the top of a hidden tower?” Where indeed? Where would you keep your stash of secret magical books?

5. Most magical books have spells or another device which create or direct the magic. But the “books of xx” books seem to keep a record of how the magic was used. Discuss how the magical book trope here differs from other novels (such as The Midnight Library, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, The Book Eaters, The Shadow of the Wind etc.)

6. Why did the author choose books as the vehicle…instead of some other sort of talisman? Rather than a sword or potion, what’s specific to the nature of books that make them critical to the story?

7. Some of the negative reviews of the book flagged racist and fat-shaming comments coming from some of the characters. Did you notice that? If so, did you accept the comments as part of that character’s make-up? Or did it bother you?

8. If you could return through any door (or doors) on the planet, where/when would it be?

9. Discuss Drummond’s theory about how you can’t really alter the present if you go back in time. He believes that you’ll just ensure that what is supposed to happen, happens. Is that really what happened? Or did Cassie’s careful massaging of the past indeed change the present???And on a scale of 1-10, with one being a mild headache and 10 being a blinding migraine, how much does his theory make your brain hurt?

10. There were some very circular elements in the time travel part of the story. For instance Barbary’s pain floated in the air, subsequently landing on Rachel, aka The Woman, who as an adult, triggered much of the plot action. Did you observe other instances of the plot looping in on itself? Did it work for you?

11. BONUS QUESTION: Pick one of the books that you would like to have and share why you would want it and how you would use it. For a reminder, they are the books of… awaking, illusions, shadows, pain, memories, light, matter, health, faces, mists, luck, speed, control, safety, mist, destruction, despair, joy, and flame.

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