"Heap Earth Upon It" by Chloe Michelle Howarth

"What a strange thing it is, to be questioning heaven, when I've known it. Heaven was the pink of your best dress, and your knuckles on my door. Heaven was butter melting into bread made by your hands and laughter from your mouth. I knew Heaven every day, every time you looked at me. Maybe we don't go there when we die, maybe we live there while we are alive."

Themes: Religion; Sexuality; Family/family dynamics; Secrets; Appearance; Violence; Stillness; Motherhood; Denial; Discomfort; Morality; Obsession; Grief

Discussion Questions:

1. Many articles describe this book as "claustrophobic." Do you agree? Why or why not? What moments in particular felt claustrophobic?

2. How would you describe the setting of this book? If you've read "Sunburn" by Chloe Michelle Howarth, how do the two settings compare?

3. What about the characters do you find unsettling? How does Howarth communicate a disturbing atmosphere?

4. Did you find one of the characters more unreliable (or reliable) than the others?

5. Peggy doesn't have her own POV chapters, but she tells us a lot when she is mentioned. What does Peggy show us? What does she tell the reader without saying anything?

6. Do you pity Anna? Do you fear her? How does Howarth complicate our feelings towards her?

7. How are Anna's relationship with Betty and Tom's relationship with Bill similar? How are they different?

8. Who did you think the 'you' was (that the characters speak to in their POVs) originally?

9. What aspects of the book categorize it as a psychological thriller? Would you categorize it as such?

10. How does Howarth explore obsession? When is obession acceptable? When is it not?

11. What do you think about Jack's relationship to Anna? What about her being a woman affects his view of her?

12. Discuss Tom's relationship of religion. How does he use it?

13. How does grief affect the characters differently?