Reading Group Guide
Discussion Questions
The Confidant
- Was Louis right to share this story with Camille? Why did he wait until after her mother had died?
- What is the significance of Camille’s own pregnancy?
- Which character is, in your opinion, the most to blame for the unhappiness in the novel? Is there any justice in the end?
- Is Annie a victim or a perpetrator of her own unhappiness?
- Do you have any sympathy for Elisabeth? What about Paul? Why or why not?
- In The Confidant, does love function as a divisive force, a healing element, or a tool for survival?
- What impact does a written letter have that a conversation does not? Why does Louis approach Camille this way?
- Louis is a mysterious figure—we hear from him but never interact with him. What do you imagine he looks like? Describe his life beyond the novel.
- In their own ways, both Elisabeth and Annie take extreme measures for the well–being of their child. How far would you go for the sake of your family?
- Would Camille have had a happier life with Annie or with Elisabeth? Does each mother provide something the other does not?
- How do you interpret the meaning of the final line of the book?
