Book Club Questions for DELETED

1. What do you think the title means? What different things or people get “deleted” in the book? What other title might you choose?

2.  DELETED is set in the near future when everyone is connected to the internet with Spex, thought-activated glasses.  Would you wear Spex?  Why or why not?  What’s gained or lost by wearing them?”  

3. Nick observes that people look different in memories than in real life.  Those we love look better, those who hurt us look worse. What is the role of memory in relationships? What is the role of forgetting?

4. If you could access other people's memories, whose mind would you be tempted to hack?  What would you want to know?  What wouldn’t you want to know?”  

 5. Nick poses the question: If you do something wrong and no remembers, does it matter? What do you think?  Can you give examples of situations where it’s better to know —even if it hurts you or someone else— or times when it’s better not to know?”

6. Lucy lived off the grid to avoid losing her memories. Was it worth the risk for her to do that?  What is the relationship between tech and memory?  What’s gained or lost when we give up one vs. the other? 

7. One argument Nick makes in favor of erasing memories is that all memories are faulty, that the moment our mind consolidates a memory we alter it.  How does the concept of false memories affect your view of your own memories?

8. Marco and Lucy will not go to the police for help because they fear what the government might do with the ability to mind-hack. How could the government abuse mind-hacking? Could mind-hacking be used to help a community?

9. Why do you think the author chose to tell this particular story in multiple points of view? What’s gained or lost with multiple perspectives?”  

10. At the beginning of each chapter is a quote from Walden or Paradise Lost. Which quote was your favorite?  Which quote best captured the essence of the book? Why these two books?

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for reading my book. Do you have suggestions for other discussion questions? If so, please leave them in the comments below. If you enjoyed DELETED please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It only needs to be a sentence or two and it really helps this first time author with a small publisher.