Discussion Questions
Kept: An American Househusband in Paris
A reader in Romania asked if I had discussion questions for her book group. I told her, "Well, my books are not that deep, but okay." Thanks, Michelle, for giving me the push I needed. - g
One
In middle school, Greg used to sneak into his parents’ living room to watch Brooke Shields swim naked in The Blue Lagoon. Who was your teenage celebrity crush? How’s he/she/it/them looking today? Do you feel like a dummy? Would you dump your husband/wife/partner/pet for a chance with them today?
Two
Would you rather take a two-week vacation with Aunt Ethel or have a skin graft? Why? Who is your Aunt Ethel?
Three
Did you read Greg’s other memoir, Kept: An American Househusband in Paris? If no, why not?!? If yes, how do the books differ in tone, style or whatever? How do the principal characters differ? Who’s the star of the show?
Four
Ladies, do you feel squeamish, terrified or giddy at the prospect of turning over management of your household and children entirely to your man? What would that look like? Would your family thrive, survive or perish? Exercise: propose this arrangement to your spouse/partner. Ask him to write a book about it.
Five
Gentlemen, how would you like to become a househusband and take over primary management of your household and children? What would your wife say? Would she laugh hysterically? Why? Exercise: do it and write a book about it.
Six
Is Greg the Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné of his day? If not, who is? David Sedaris, Jenny Lawson, Taylor Swift, Donald Trump, someone else?
Seven
Greg got recruited by a CIA spook at a cocktail party but then bombed the polygraph. Do you think you would make a good spy? Do you think you could pass a CIA polygraph? If not, what is your deepest, darkest secret that you’re hiding? Tell your book group friends your secret. What’s their reaction? Do you remain friends?
Eight
What’s your favorite thing about Kept: An American Househusband in Paris? Why?
Nine
Greg and Dana met on a dare. Would you have gone on that date? What would have been your reaction to the answering machine tape?
Kept: An American Househusband in India
A reader in Romania asked if I had discussion questions for her book group. I told her, "Well, my books are not that deep, but okay." Thanks, Michelle, for giving me the push I needed. - g
One
Greg failed the Foreign Service Officer Test while Dana passed with an almost a perfect score. Is that some crazy, ironic #$%, or what? Shouldn't Greg be over it by now?
Two
Have you ever followed your spouse around the world while they did your dream job? If not, try it and write a silly book about it.
Three
What would you do if a lonely supermodel rocket scientist propositioned you? How would you handle it differently from Greg, and why? Share your answer with your spouse or partner.
Four
Nina is now grown and calls Greg twice a day.
Five
Have you ever found a cobra behind your toilet? What's the weirdest place you ever found a cobra? Did you watch the 2006 cult classic Snakes on a Plane?
Six
Who's your favorite character in Kept in India? If Dinesh were single, would you want his number? Did you watch the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking?
Seven
Greg stuck his head in the window of a car he believed to be tailing his wife. How stupid was that?
Eight
Have you ever witnessed an authentic Indian head bobble? Try it now with your group. Does it feel like something you probably shouldn't be doing? Why or why not?
Nine
Did you know that Greg's bratty niece Tiffany is now an American diplomat in her own right and loves India so much that she is now serving in Chennai a second time? How would like to be a diplomat? Where would you want to be posted? Turkmenistan?
Kept: An American Househusband in Cambodia
A reader in Romania asked if I had discussion questions for her book group. I told her, "Well, my books are not that deep, but okay." Thanks, Michelle, for giving me the push I needed. - g
One
In the prologue of Kept in Cambodia, Greg almost dies in a bar. Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever been in a bar fight? Did you win? If not, why?
Two
Greg gave Peck time off to pee on Pol Pot's grave. Whose grave would you like to pee on? Do you think you could get time off for it?
Three
Activity: Sing karaoke with your book group. Like, right now. Really.
Four
Who's your favorite character in Kept in Cambodia? If not Greg, vigorously defend your answer.
Five
Which man in Kept in Cambodia would you most like to kick in the conejos, and why? Did you know conejos is Spanish for "rabbits" and that Greg was just trying to be funny? Do you still want to hurt somebody? Does this question make any sense at all?
Six
Greg missed his flight back to Cambodia from Geneva. How you every done something that dumb? Was Greg right to tell Dana what happened even though she otherwise might not have known? Should he have kept mum? What terrible secrets do you hide from your spouse or partner? Share them now with the group.
Seven
What do you think of Samnang? Where do you hope she is now?
Eight
Dana never reads Greg's stuff in advance of publication. Is she nuts? What would you do?
Nine
What, if anything, did you learn from Kept in Cambodia? Did you already know about the Cambodia-donut connection?