BKMT READING GUIDES
The Queen of the Night
by Alexander Chee
Published: 2016-02-02
Hardcover : 576 pages
Hardcover : 576 pages
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National Bestseller
“This book is a glorious performance . . . Enveloping, seductive.” —Karen Russell
From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as “the fire, in my opinion, and the light,” a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman’s rise from circus rider to courtesan to ...
“This book is a glorious performance . . . Enveloping, seductive.” —Karen Russell
From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as “the fire, in my opinion, and the light,” a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman’s rise from circus rider to courtesan to ...
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Introduction
National Bestseller
“This book is a glorious performance . . . Enveloping, seductive.” —Karen Russell
From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as “the fire, in my opinion, and the light,” a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman’s rise from circus rider to courtesan to world-renowned diva
Lilliet Berne is a sensation of the Paris Opera, a legendary soprano with every accolade except an original role, every singer’s chance at immortality. When one is finally offered to her, she realizes with alarm that the libretto is based on a hidden piece of her past. Only four could have betrayed her: one is dead, one loves her, one wants to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all.
“This book is a glorious performance . . . Enveloping, seductive.” —Karen Russell
From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as “the fire, in my opinion, and the light,” a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman’s rise from circus rider to courtesan to world-renowned diva
Lilliet Berne is a sensation of the Paris Opera, a legendary soprano with every accolade except an original role, every singer’s chance at immortality. When one is finally offered to her, she realizes with alarm that the libretto is based on a hidden piece of her past. Only four could have betrayed her: one is dead, one loves her, one wants to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all.
As she mines her memories for clues, she recalls her life as an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe and was swept up into the glitzy, gritty world of Second Empire Paris. In order to survive, she transformed herself from hippodrome rider to courtesan, from empress’s maid to debut singer, all the while weaving a complicated web of romance, obligation, and political intrigue.
Featuring a cast of characters drawn from history, The Queen of the Night follows Lilliet as she moves ever closer to the truth behind the mysterious opera and the role that could secure her reputation -- or destroy her with the secrets it reveals.
Excerpt
OneWhen it began, it began as an opera would begin, in a palace, at a ball, in an encounter with a stranger who, you discover, has your fate in his hands. He is perhaps a demon or a god in disguise, offering you a chance at either the fulfillment of a dream or a trap for the soul. A comic element??—??the soprano arrives in the wrong dress??—??and it decides her fate. ...
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Discussion Questions
1. What is Lillet’s real name? What are some of her many nicknames and why does she have so many?2. What is Lillet’s curse (or curses)? Do you think the curse is real?
3. “It was as if I had two voices now, the one strong and clear, the other turned to ash. As if the voice that could speak had been punished for the pride of the one that could sing. The gift and the test” (55). What is the significance of Lilliet’s different abilities to speak and to sing?
3. Discuss the importance of clothing and appearance in the novel. What do Lilliet’s cancan shoes mean to her? How do men use the gift of clothing to their advantage? Look at the opening scene and how Lilliet’s change of clothing changes people’s perception of her. Other instances to examine might be the wardrobe of the Empress, or the events at the costume ball, or other ways Lilliet must disguise and reinvent herself.
4. Who were Lilliet’s voice teachers and how did each shape her as a person?
5. For Lilliet, what does it mean to be free? Are there any female characters in this novel who are truly free? Discuss the idea of freedom, how it has evolved for women since the time of the setting of this novel, and what it means to you.
6. Look at the various relationships in the novel and discuss the characters’ motivations for entering into them. Which relationships are purely utilitarian? Who is using whom and how? Where do you see true love and true friendship?
Notes From the Author to the Bookclub
One of the Most Anticipated Titles of 2016 by EW, Wired, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, BBC, Bustle, The Millions, Flavorwire, Book Riot, Brooklyn Magazine, and Bookish. "Enchants."—US Weekly “The Queen of the Night is an astonishing universe into which its lucky readers can dissolve completely, metamorphosing alongside its shapeshifting protagonist. Lilliet Berne steals her name from a gravestone and launches into a life of full-throated song; her voice is an intoxicant, and this book is a glorious performance. Chee's enveloping, seductive prose is perfectly matched to the circus world of the opera.” —Karen Russell, New York Times best-selling author of Swamplandia and Vampires in the Lemon GroveBook Club Recommendations
Recommended to book clubs by 1 of 1 members.
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