The Cloisters(99)

Thanks, also, to two early influences on this book (although none of us knew it at the time)—Herb Kessler and Josh O’Driscoll. Many years ago you let me sit in on your medieval colloquium. All the weirdness I saw there ended up being the germ of this book. And Josh, your Instagram has been clutch.

No acknowledgments are complete without thanking the people who’ve gamely put up with my many interests over the years—my parents. You’ve never batted an eye when I’ve told you what outlandish thing I’m thinking about doing next. And you’ve greeted my writer phase with the same enthusiasm and support as everything that came before. You have always made anything seem possible, and that is a wonderful gift to give a child. You are both, simply put, the best. Thanks, also, to Bet and Wade for instilling in me a love of the arts. And to David, Karen, and Aiais, thank you for talking to me endlessly about books. And to all my extended family—I’m so lucky to have you.

But no one has heard more about this book than Andrew Hays, whose patience, love, creativity, wit, talent, good humor, and kindness are the cornerstone of our lives. Without you, nothing would be as fun, bright, or joyful. I love living with you in the shadow of the mountain that brought us together. And to our dog, Queso, who keeps us company while we type. You are a very good boy. We love you.





THE CLOISTERS

Katy Hays

This reading group guide for The Cloisters includes an introduction, discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Katy Hays. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.





Introduction


The Secret History meets Ninth House in this sinister, atmospheric novel following a circle of researchers as they uncover a mysterious deck of tarot cards and shocking secrets in New York’s famed Met Cloisters.





Topics & Questions for Discussion


The events of The Cloisters take place over one summer. How does the season and summer weather reflect Ann’s emotions and evolution throughout the novel?

Patrick and Rachel are first introduced in Chapter 2. What were your first impressions of each of them? Discuss the events that resulted in Ann working at The Cloisters?

Patrick is Rachel’s mentor, but he is also her lover. How does this dynamic complicate the situation at The Cloisters? Who do you think had more power in their relationship, and what form did that power take?

Early on, Rachel steals a cookie from the café, and later we see her play pranks on Moira, in addition to taking the tiles to identify plants in the garden and stealing a boat. What do these incidents tell us about Rachel? How do all of these “games” foreshadow the dark and dangerous choices she has made over the years?

What do you think Ann’s motivations were to not share all of Lingraf’s writings with Rachel and to hide the false-fronted card from Patrick? How might the story have been different if she had shared this information with the team?

Loss is central to both Ann’s and Rachel’s stories. Discuss some of their major (and minor) losses throughout the book and how these may have shaped them as characters.

Laure warns Ann about Rachel’s past—why do you think Ann becomes so defensive of Rachel? At this point, do you think their friendship is a healthy one?

Discuss how Lingraf becomes central to the mystery and uncovering the truth.

Ann and Rachel come from very different backgrounds, but at the end of the novel, Rachel insists that they are the same. What personality traits do each of them share? How are they different? Ultimately, do you think Rachel is right?

In Chapter 4, Ann expresses how “Walla Walla would always feel like death to me” (p. 33). Do you think the same can be said for The Cloisters after her summer there?

In the end, was it fate that decided what happened to these characters or the choices they made?

During the prologue, Ann talks about how she missed “the omens that haunted The Cloisters that summer.” Having finished the novel, what were the omens? How did the prologue foreshadow the importance (or not) of Fate?

Both tarot and astrology play a significant role in today’s discourse. These days, it seems as if everyone knows their rising sign or has tarot deck. How do those contemporary practices relate to the historic practices outlined in The Cloisters? Are they different? Similar? Do you use either device, and if so, why?





Enhance Your Book Club


As Ann dives into her research at The Cloisters, she learns about different types of divination and fortune telling, including augury, pyromancy, cleromancy, lots, and tarot. Research the history of these practices. Why do you think there is a growing interest in them today?

Leo introduces Ann to many of the plants grown in the gardens, including some that are poisonous. List the plants mentioned, and see if you can identify any at a local botanical garden.

The Met Cloisters is a real museum in New York City. Learn more about the museum at www.metmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/met-cloisters or plan an in-person visit!





A Conversation with Katy Hays


There’s a lot of history woven into the book, particularly regarding art and tarot cards. What was your research process like?