The Whispers

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of child abuse, graphic violence, and racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Several characters in The Whispers choose to ignore their intuition at times. Why do you think they do this?  

2. How does Audrain’s portrayal of motherhood’s darker aspects compare to other literary explorations of the topic? Her debut novel, The Push, for example, also examines maternal ambivalence and societal expectations.

3.Which character’s perspective did you find most compelling, and what made their viewpoint particularly effective in conveying the novel’s themes?

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

1. Blair frequently compares herself with Whitney. Have you ever compared yourself to others? What do you think made you compare yourself with another person, and what did you learn from the experience?

2. Throughout the novel, characters engage in willful ignorance to maintain the appearance of control in their lives. Can you recall a time when you chose to ignore “whispers” of intuition? Why did you do so?

3. Whitney describes motherhood as a “voluntary death,” while Blair embraces immersing herself in her daughter’s needs.