Book Club Questions for Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus
Book club questions for Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus take a closer look at this entertaining novel about poetry, ambition, and figuring it all out. There will be spoilers, so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first.
I’m thinking back on Peck & Peck, and there are so many scenes that made me laugh out loud. I actually found more humor in this one compared to Lessons in Chemistry, which did, of course, have humor as well. But Lessons in Chemistry includes more tragedy and hardships.
There is also plenty of depth and emotion in Peck & Peck. For instance, Batter’s twin died at birth, and that’s something that has a lasting impact on him.
But in the end, this story is a humorous take on the poetry world and it’s so appealing and a breath of fresh air.
I so appreciate how Bonnie Garmus is bringing such original stories to the mainstream audience. Both her novels are so creative, unique, and truly refreshing.
Batter’s Arc
Batter going from a shy, introverted lover of poetry to ending up in jail was quite the journey! I really like how the story started off with the reader knowing that somehow Batter ended up in jail. It really made the story have an even greater sense of urgency, as we knew it would somehow end up there.
It was interesting to read how much Batter changed from an awkward teenager to finding his voice to doing what he saw as right within Peck & Peck.
After featuring such a strong female character in Lessons in Chemistry, I actually was unsure of how I would feel following Batter, but the story quickly won me over with the humor and shining supporting characters, especially his parents and best friend.
The story has a lot to say about families, especially twins, dreams, ambition, and more. It certainly straddles the line between good and bad, with most living in the grey. The Peck family was quite complicated, and even after it’s finished, I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about them.
But I quite liked the ending, and it was very entertaining to read that now Batter and Dexter are co-editors of the publication. Adding another layer of family dysfunction within Peck & Peck, but in a more humorous, less backstabbing way compared to their predecessors.
Let me know what you think about the book in the comments section below!
Book Club Questions for Peck & Peck
- First, are you a fan of poetry? If you are, can you share some of your favorite poems or poets? And if not, talk about why it’s not for you?
- When you first read that Bonnie Garmus’ follow-up to Lessons in Chemistry takes place in the world of poetry, what was your reaction?
- Why do you think she decided to set the book in 1980s New York? How did the city and the Peck & Peck building both serve as additional characters?
- Batter has always been defined by two things: his twin died at birth, and he’s named after his mother’s beloved dog, which she claims was a hero. In what ways did both of them have an impact on Batter?
- When you read at the beginning that Batter would eventually end up in jail, what were your thoughts?
- Why was poetry the right outlet for Batter?
- Batter’s parents mean well and love him greatly, but they are not thrilled about Batter’s goals to work in poetry. His best friend Paul is also confused by it. Let’s talk about some of the memorable exchanges with Batter and others regarding his love of poetry.
- Batter tries to write poetry, and it’s somewhat of a constant joke that one of his poems ended up on public transit. When did it become apparent to Batter that he was not destined to be a poet himself?
- Why was Peck & Peck his dream job?
- Batter does eventually get a job at Peck & Peck but not as editor. He’s down in the basement making copies for the other editors. Let’s discuss Batter’s first days at Peck & Peck.
- Peck & Peck has an interesting history; it’s always stayed in the Peck family, and it reached big success as a poetry journal. But it hit financial ruin when one of the brothers, Declonius Peck, committed fraud and eventually went to prison for it. But Declonius did have a love for poetry. Whereas his twin brother, Salton, took over the company and seemingly turned it around financially, but he has no interest in the art form. Let’s compare and contrast the two brothers.
- Andy is the security guard at Peck & Peck, and Batter is highly confused about why they have one, until Andy says poets can’t handle rejection. While most of it is in humor, the book certainly points to poets as the most sensitive of the creative types. Why do you think that is?
- What were your thoughts about the work environment at Peck & Peck?
- Declonius starts showing up at Peck & Peck visiting Batter, even though legally he can’t. Why do you think Batter didn’t reveal these meetings earlier on? Was he hoping that Declonius was the real deal?
- Salton is certainly a toxic and cruel boss. But he is given some context, as their family life was quite complicated, and Andy, the security guard, could actually be his real dad. Why was it important for the reader to know this backstory about Salton and Andy?
- Who is the villain of the story?
- The book covers much about twins; for Batter, it’s the loss of his twin that he always carries, and with the Peck family, the twin relationship is messy and competitive. What do you think the author was trying to say about the relationships between twins?
- Batter always heard these big stories about his mother’s beloved dog, and at one point, he’s frustrated with her and calls out the stories as a fraud. But he slowly learns that the stories were true, and in fact, the dog was a hero, but suffered a tragic ending. What were your thoughts about Batter’s namesake’s real history? What did these reveals about the dog teach Batter going forward?
- Batter eventually finds his voice and confidence and helps to take down the Peck siblings’ greed, in a vivid and adventurous climax at the company party. Let’s talk about Batter’s decision-making there and how it helped change the company for good.
- What did you think about the ending? Let’s talk about what happens next for all the main characters.
- What was the significance of the egg symbol to Peck & Peck and the story as a whole?
Additional Recommendations
Hope you enjoyed the book club questions for Peck & Peck! Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions.
If you haven’t read Lessons in Chemistry yet, now is the time to do so! An utterly charming and original story that will stay with you for a long time.
For more about the book, check out my review here and book club questions here.
Another wonderful pick for book clubs is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. With the Netflix adaptation out, now is a great time to pick up the book if you haven’t already.
What’s interesting is that the novel is such a quiet story, yet it also dives deep into grief, resilience, loneliness, aging, and even a fresh start. The protagonist, Tova Sullivan, is one of the most vivid characters I’ve read in some time. Her kindness and strength, especially after dealing with personal losses, were admirable.
For more about the book, check out my review here and my book club questions here.
Happy reading!
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