The Seven Year Slip

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The Seven Year Slip blends the genres of romance and magical realism. How did you feel about this combination of genres? Were there any moments in the plot that you think blended these elements better or worse than others?
• Did you expect Clementine and Iwan to overcome the barriers presented by the time difference? Were there any points in the novel you thought they might not end up together?
• Do you believe in time slips? Do Poston’s descriptions of the time slip in apartment B4 influence your views on their probability?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Have you ever felt burnout or lost interest in a career like Clementine did? How did you feel in this situation? If you were in Clementine’s position, would you have quit without a precise career plan in place?
• Is there something you’re as passionate about as Iwan is about cooking? Would you ever consider turning this passion into a career and, if so, do you think it would change your relationship with that passion?
• Have you ever felt yourself torn between the past and the present? Could you relate to Clementine’s separation of her past and present selves?
• Has there ever been a time when you chose security over happiness? How do you feel about Clementine’s wish to stay stagnant rather than risk changing her life for the better?
• Clementine often reflects on the woman she was before Analea’s death and how she misses that person. Have you ever grieved a past version of yourself? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

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

• Can this text be read as a criticism of the publishing world? What about the culture of high-end restaurants? Are there any examples from either sphere you were reminded of while reading the novel?
• Does the dual setting in the present and seven years in the past influence the narrative? How do these two time periods reflect their contemporary values? 

4. Literary Analysis 

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

• How do Clementine’s attempts to balance work and passion reflect contemporary expectations for work-life balance? Do you think this is at all influenced by her specific career choices? 
• Is New York City merely the setting of the novel or does it have any symbolic or thematic significance? Can the same be said for apartment B4? Is Clementine and Iwan’s relationship impacted at all by their physical surroundings?
• How does Clementine change throughout the novel? Are any of the changes she undergoes detectable in how she narrates her story? Do Iwan’s changes parallel Clementine’s changes, or are they entirely different? 
• How does the revelation that Analea died by suicide change the tone of the novel? Did this change your thoughts or feelings about Analea’s role in the novel?
• What do you think is the novel’s overall stance on change? Is change necessary for the characters’ happiness? 

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Consider what you would do if you found yourself in a seven-year time slip. Would you try to interact with your past self or loved ones? Would you try to find anyone you met in the past when you returned to the present? 
• If you were to redesign Hyacinth, what would you change and what would you keep the same? Do you agree with the changes Iwan made to his restaurant? 
• What do you think would have happened if Clementine and Iwan hadn’t first met in the past, but in the present? Would the two feel the same way about each other? Would either of their careers have gotten in the way of their relationship? 

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