The Second Life of Mirielle West

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• What knowledge or impression did you have of Hansen’s disease prior to reading the novel? How did the novel shape or change your understanding?
• At what points in the novel did you find yourself angry or frustrated with Mirielle, and in which instances did you sympathize with her? What makes Mirielle a complex character?
• In many of her novels, as in The Second Life of Mirielle West, Amanda Skenandore builds fictional scenarios that are based upon historical facts. Consider any of the Skenadore novels you have read: What did they show you about history that you were previously unaware or unknowledgeable of? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Consider circumstances in which you have either cared for an ill relative or friend or been the patient in need of care. What challenges does such care pose, beyond the medical ones? What skills make an effective caregiver? 
• Though the circumstances are different, the quarantine enforced in the novel parallels that of city-wide shutdowns during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. What was your experience like during the pandemic? How did a forced quarantine change your daily life? What lasting impact did it create?
•  The title suggests that Mirielle is given the opportunity to remake herself during her time at Carville. If you had the chance to live a “second life,” what would you choose to do? How would this new life differ from your current life? What elements would you keep consistent?
• Mirielle hides much of her past and true identity from others at Carville. If you were in Mirielle’s shoes, which characters would you feel most comfortable confiding in and why?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• In what way does the setting of New Orleans impact the story? How would the story differ if the Carville hospital were located in a setting more familiar to Mirielle, such as Los Angeles?
• How does Mirielle’s diagnosis of Hansen’s disease force her to confront other problem aspects of her life? How are the traumas that Mirielle has experienced linked to one another?
• What does the book suggest about how “othering” impacts communities? 

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Reexamine the novel’s plot. Which moment or event is most pivotal in shifting Mirielle from the self-centered person she is when she arrives at Carville to the selfless caregiver she becomes by the novel’s end? 
• Which secondary character has the greatest influence on Mirielle and why?
• Forgiveness is an important trope that plays a role in Mirielle’s personal growth. Which other characters are impacted by this trope? What forms does forgiveness take?
• What new information or insights might the novel reveal if portions of it were told from the point of view of Mirielle’s husband, Charlie? Why might the author have chosen to limit the narration only to Mirielle?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• As the wife of a film star and a Hollywood socialite, Mirielle is a lover of movies. If the novel were adapted to film, who would you cast in the leading role and why? What research would you suggest the leading actor undergo in order to prepare for the role?
• Imagine time travel were possible and you could prevent Mirielle from being infected with Hansen’s disease. Would you choose to do so? Why or why not?
• A current trend is to describe a work of art as if it were the offspring of two other forms of art. For instance, Skenandore’s novel The Nurse’s Secret is described as a blend of The Alienist (by Caleb Carr) and The Light of Luna Park (by Addison Armstrong) (Amanda Skenandore’s website). Which two novels, in your estimation, could be considered the “parents” of The Second Life Mirielle West? Choose two titles you would like to read the “offspring” of.

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