The Life We Bury

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The Life We Bury resonates with the contemporary fascination for true crime and grassroots investigative journalism. Did this novel remind you of any popular true crime films, documentaries, or podcasts? How well does the novel’s fictional plot hold up against true crime titles?
• Were you able to predict the identity of Crystal’s killer before it was revealed? If so, when did you figure it out? What clues gave it away? If not, do you think the author could have provided the reader with more clues?
• Discuss how Joe’s family life impacts his investigation. Did you welcome Joe’s concerns over his brother’s well-being or did it get in the way of your enjoyment of the mystery at the center of the novel? 

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• The Life We Bury indicts the flaws of American criminal justice as it existed in 1980. What are your thoughts on the way that criminal justice is carried out today? Do you think it has improved from its depiction in the novel? What are some of the areas for further reform?
• How did Carl’s identity as a Vietnam War veteran affect your sympathy for him? Was this detail used to make him appear more or less likely to be guilty of the crimes of which he had been accused?
• Many of the novel’s characters are trying to navigate their relationship with the past, either accepting it or burying it, as the title suggests. Do you think it is possible to distance yourself from your past? In what ways has your past shaped you? Conversely, what are the ways you’ve succeeded in distancing yourself from your past?
• Carl’s case considers a wide variety of perspectives, some of which are ultimately revealed to have misrepresented the truth of Crystal’s murder. How do you make sense of complex truths? How do you discern between conflicting versions of a story to arrive at the truth?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Compare Carl’s treatment in the criminal justice system to a real-life case where someone was wrongfully accused and received punishment for a crime they did not commit. Does Carl’s exoneration accurately reflect the way similar cases are resolved in real life?
• How have investigative techniques evolved since the 1980s? Do you think Carl would have still been imprisoned if the case had been investigated using today’s technology and investigative approaches? Would social media have affected the perception of the case and its proceedings?

4. Literary Analysis 

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How does Joe’s first-person perspective limit the reader’s ability to learn more about Carl’s case? Consider Joe’s age and his identity as a college student throughout the discussion.
• Discuss the relationship between moral justice and legal justice by comparing Carl’s abuse in the criminal justice system to Jeremy’s abuse at home and/or to Lila’s rape. How does the same justice system that wrongfully put Carl in prison fail to indict Jeremy’s mistreatment or ensure the lack of restitution for Lila’s trauma?
• Joe’s investigation begins as a college English assignment. The narrative presents the complete text of this assignment halfway through the novel. How do Joe’s motivations evolve throughout the novel? Why does it make sense that the narrative continues beyond Joe’s assignment?
• Photographs play an important role in pushing Joe’s investigation forward. What does this say about the importance of sensory memory in establishing the truth? How do our senses lead or mislead us in creating accurate historical narratives?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Taking a cue from Joe’s English class, select an older person from your community and use one moment from their life to represent their biography. Do you feel the moment you’ve chosen faithfully represents your subject as a person? What parts of their life feel left out and how does this resonate with Carl’s perception in the eyes of his peers at the nursing home?
• Imagine adapting the novel to the format of a true crime podcast. How would you change the way the story was structured to ensure that your listeners remained interested from episode to episode? Are there natural cliffhangers you would employ to end a segment? 

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