Each month, we’ll have two discussion questions (or so) a week, to really get into the books we’re reading. Half of these will be available to everyone and half only to paid subscribers and I’ll be joining in the latter conversations! I look forward to it! Now on to Age of Vice by Deepti Kapoor.

Ajay is at the heart of this story and I found myself incredibly invested in his story from the very beginning. I was infuriated at how he was treated, hoping he would encounter some good luck or grace at the very least, and not at all mad to see him become a force to be reckoned with, in his own way.

But before we read Ajay’s story, we learn he was scapegoated for the car crash killing several unhoused people. How did this framing change the way you read about his life up to that point? What do you think compelled Ajay to attach himself to Sunny? In reading this section, did you find anyone who genuinely cared about Ajay?

I also think about characters who are written into abjectly miserable lives. Is that how you thought of Ajay? Or did you find he was more than a victim of his circumstances? I’d love to know what you think about Ajay and, as always, the book overall.