Long Island Compromise

The story of Zelig Fletcher’s success is, in some ways, representative of the American dream. How does Brodesser-Akner use this story to expose the flaws of the American dream in a capitalist system?

Charlie’s popular series, Family Business, might be read as an allusion to the popular drama series Succession. Discuss how Succession, Long Island Compromise, and other examples speak to an emerging trend of stories about the lives of wealthy people. How do these stories maintain broad appeal for a wide audience or readership?

None of the Fletchers ever learn that Ike was the mastermind of Carl’s kidnapping. Why do you think the author chose to leave this unresolved? How does the importance of this information shift with the time that passes through the end of the story?

The event of Carl’s kidnapping impacts personality traits that were already present in each of the Fletcher children. How would the novel have changed if the kidnapping were never part of the plot? Does this change make the kidnapping necessary to the novel?

Discuss the shift in Middle Rock’s milieu against the erosion of the American middle class between the 1980s and 2020s. How does the Fletchers’ exodus from Middle Rock relate to this trend?

Beamer and Noelle’s failure to attend Liesl’s recital suggests that they have replicated the cycle of absence that Beamer’s parents imprinted upon him. What steps would Beamer and Noelle have to take to end that cycle with Liesl? How can they help her deal with her trauma in a meaningful way?

Ruth is driven by her need to preserve her access to wealth, which forces her to prioritize Carl’s mental health over the upbringing of her children. Since Phyllis exists as an opposing force for Ruth, contrast her by explaining what her motivations might be in the context of her relationships with Carl and Zelig.

Compare Long Island Compromise to Brodesser-Akner’s debut novel, Fleishman Is In Trouble (2017). What are some of the common themes between these books? Synthesize these themes to explore the author’s key theses.