Literally Leander discussion

Our book club pick for July was I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys, a repeat author in this book club. Please know that there will be spoilers for the novel in this thread.

Our discussion prompts this month come from the Penguin Classroom Portal, put together by the book's publisher. As always, these are only prompts and you are not required to use them! We look forward to anything you have to say about this book!

1. The radio is a prized possession in Cristian’s household. Bunu even went to great lengths—such as selling cartons of Kents—to fix it. The information it relays isn’t trustworthy, yet Romanians listen all the same. Why do you think that is? What does the radio symbolize to them? How does the media, in this context, serve the public?

2. There’s a juxtaposition of characterization between Bunu and Cristian’s mother. They both react distinctly to Romania’s regime—the former being outspoken, the latter discreet. Their contrasting personalities could potentially face consequences for different reasons—but which is more dangerous? What does their personality reveal about them?

3. Cristian realizes that “Mama wasn’t angry at Bunu for being ill, but for being a dissident." The woman from Boston, however, consoles Cristian by telling him that “the regime is sick, not you..." The author likens the circumstances happening in the novel to an illness, where it’s metaphorical to the regime’s deceptions. Do you agree with the comparison?

4. Cristian was too fearful to speak up about being an informer, yet the majority of the people he was surrounded by ended up being informers themselves. Do you think the same people would have been receptive if Cristian were honest and upfront about being an informer, or would they have turned on him? Why?

5. How did you feel about Cristian? In what ways did the author develop his character as the story progressed? What prompts him not only to use his voice, but stand up and fight against the regime? Are these actions consistent with his character?

6. Did you know anything about communism in Romania and the Ceaușescu dictatorship prior to reading? If not, were you compelled to further research this? Were there any specific events in the novel that affected you?

7. In the end, we learn the painful truth about who betrayed Cristian and the sense of duty they felt to inform. Do you think the lines are blurred here? In what ways was this an example of the regime’s deceitful cruelty?