Book Club Questions for The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

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Book club questions for The God of the Woods by Liz Moore takes an in-depth look at this compelling novel about secrets and lies. There will be spoilers so for more context about the story, check out my spoiler-free review first.

The God of the Woods is such a well done literary thriller, while also serving as an engaging character study. Liz Moore is one of the most talented writers out there and I think this is her best work yet.

Let me know your thoughts about the book below!

The Synopsis

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Book Club Questions for The God of the Woods

1. Let’s first talk about the title, The God of the Woods. Why do you think this title was selected and how does it relate to the story as a whole?
2. The novel starts off in August 1975 when Barbara, a camper and daughter of the family who owns the summer camp, has gone missing. As the story unfolds, what did you suspect happened to Barbara?
3. The first part is dedicated to Barbara and we learn more about the dysfunctional and cruel Van Laar family. What were your thoughts as more was revealed about this family?
4. This story follows several characters throughout the story. For instance, we read another camper Tracy’s perspective as she befriends Barbara. Why was it important to include Tracy’s viewpoint and how did it help add to Barbara’s character development?
5. During the sections dedicated to Bear, Barbara’s older brother, we experience it through Alice, his mother’s viewpoint. Alice married the much older Peter, but she never felt comfortable or secure and she’s often disregarded by everyone. She eventually becomes an alcoholic, which will have devastating effects. What is your overall impression of Alice? Is she a complicated, somewhat sympathetic character or do you see her as selfish?
6. As you first read the story, what did you think happened to Bear? Who did you believe was involved?
7. Why was Carl Stoddard pinpointed as the suspect?
8. The one saving grace for Alice is her son, Bear. But yet, her alcoholism is all consuming. Eventually, we learn just how much—after witnesses her husband and sister having an affair, she becomes inebriated. And Alice is the reason why Bear died. But she was too drunk and traumatized to fully processed what happened. Let’s talk about all these reveals.
9. Her husband and father-in-law kept the truth from her. Why did they make that decision to lie about what happened to Bear?
10. While Alice hasn’t fully processed the full extent of what happened that day with Bear, she never recovers from his disappearance. How did the trauma and guilt impact her every day behavior, including her relationship with Barbara?
11. A key character we follow is Judy, a female investigator. While she deals with sexism commentary, nothing stops her from solving the mystery. What did you think about Judy? And how did she learn from the mistakes of the prior investigation of Bear?
12. Louise, a camp counselor, is another character we focus on. She comes from a troubled background with an alcoholic mother, and she’s trying her best to help provide for her younger brother. Even being with the psychopath McClellan in hopes of a better future. Let’s discuss Louise’s progression in the story. What happens next for her?
13. Another focus on the novel is Vic, a head worker at the camp, and his daughter, T.J., who takes over when he falls ill. Why did they stay at the camp, despite knowing all the terrible secrets of the Van Laar family? Why did T.J. finally decide to tell the truth about her father’s involvement in Bear’s disappearance?
14. Jacob is a mass murderer who escaped prison. We learn that he did not harm Bear, but did witness Vic burying him. How did the inclusion of Jacob add tension to the story? And why do you think he told the police where Bear was after all this time?
15. Judy eventually figures out what happened to Barbara, she escaped, with the help of T.J., to an island. Judy goes to check on Barbara to make sure she is ok. Let’s first discuss why Judy decided not to let anyone know where Barbara is.
16. Why did Barbara decide to got to the island? What will life look like for her going forward, now that the truth is finally out there about her family?
17. There’s so many themes to consider in this novel. A big one is about how money and power can corrupt. The Van Laar family is able to behave without consequences, due to their wealth, and the same with the McClellan family. Let’s discuss our thoughts about this and how justice was finally served.
18. Parenthood is also a theme of this novel. From Alice’s love for Bear but her cruel behavior to Barbara; T.J. serving as a surrogate parent to Barbara; Louise’s dysfunctional mother and Judy’s overprotective parents. How did this novel help show the impact of parental figures in children’s lives?
19. This story covers second chances and redemption. For instance, the Stoddard family get closure and their father’s name is cleared; T.J. and Vic finally tell the truth; Louise escapes an abusive relationship. Let’s discuss these themes in more detail.

Additional Recommendations

Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The God of the Woods! Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions.

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

“We didn’t call the police right away.”

Those are the electric first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing. Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything–which is why she isn’t initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak. 

What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance.

Happy reading!