A Nearly Normal Family

Compare Adam’s experiences with Job’s story from the Bible. How do their trials and tribulations parallel one another’s, and what insights do these comparisons provide into Adam’s character and challenges?

Analyze the similarities and differences between Stella and Adam, as well as Stella and Ulrika. How do these relationships shape the narrative and the characters’ development?

Thérèse Raquin posits a deterministic understanding of human behavior. To what extent does A Nearly Normal Family suggest people are responsible for their actions?

What does the novel suggest about the concept of a “normal” family or individual? How do societal norms and expectations shape the characters’ sense of self and their actions?

Consider the effect of the novel’s nonlinear storytelling. How does this contribute to the novel’s overall meaning?

Discuss the portrayal of justice and the legal system in the novel. Which characters most embody the system, and why?

Imagine an alternative ending where Stella is convicted. How would a different resolution impact the themes and messages of the novel?

What role does Stella’s friendship with Amina play in the novel? What is the novel’s “message” about bonds between women?