Beautyland

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you struggle to buy into the conceit of Bertino’s narrative that Adina is an alien probe? Did you read this literally, metaphorically, or a mix of both? 
• What elements of the story felt most grounded in reality to you? How does it compare to other speculative fiction that you’ve encountered in this respect?
• How did the formal structure of the novel, particularly the lack of chapter breaks, affect your reading experience? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• How did Adina’s transmissions affect your understanding of her? Did you find them revealing, endearing, or humorous?
• What did you believe about extraterrestrials before reading the novel? Did your reading of the book uphold or change your beliefs?
• How do you resonate with Adina’s search for her place in the universe and her community? What parts of her experience felt personal to you, particularly in her struggle to fit in as an adolescent?
• Do you believe a person is meant to know their purpose, or are they meant to figure it out along the way as they experience more of life? 
• Adina’s mother and (eventually) Toni serve as stable figures when Adina feels adrift in life. Do you have someone who has been that fixed point for you at times of uncertainty?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• Consider the various meanings of the term “alien” in contemporary society. How does the novel use this term to explore ideas of identity and social alienation? What relevance does this hold for the real world?
• Compare Adina’s admission that she is an alien to real-world coming-out conversations. How does the novel comment (allegorically or otherwise) on LGBTQ+ experiences? What other populations might Adina’s story resonate with? 

4. Literary Analysis

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

• Consider the story as a Bildungsroman or coming-of-age narrative. How does the novel trace Adina’s development and growth through her experiences?
• What actions does Adina take to try to change her trajectory despite feeling she is on a fixed path? How does her resistance contribute to the work’s overall meaning?
• Why is Adina so drawn to Beautyland? How does the place function as a literal and metaphorical fixture within the story?
• What is the connection between the titles of the parts and the themes present in the novel?
• What is symbolic about Adina’s relationship to nature—particularly her mother’s garden, the aquarium, and the tree grove?

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• The novel ends with Adina’s home planet asking for a one-word sign-off to describe Earth. What would your word be?
• What do you imagine Adina’s home planet and creatures look like? Create a simple sketch or write a brief description.
• Conceptualize a movie version of the novel and cast the significant characters. What would be difficult about reproducing this story in a cinematic form?

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