The Rent Collector

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Discuss your feelings about Soriyan as a character. Do you think her character was redeemed at the end? Or do you feel that more could have been done to make up for the cowardice and the exploitation she demonstrated throughout her life?
• How would you describe the genre of this novel? Is it historical? Literary? Or does it blend elements from multiple genres? Feel free to compare this to similar novels to discuss your answers.
• As this novel suggests, stories play a crucial role in upholding memories of the past. What has this novel revealed to you about parts of history you may or may not have known about? How do you feel about learning these details?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Have you or anyone you know ever dealt with a bully before? How did they choose to resolve their problems with that bully? Did that experience influence the way they engage with people now?
• What is a story that has deeply impacted your life? Explain why this story resonates with you and how it has empowered you to become a better version of yourself.
• Have you ever participated in community outreach? Discuss your impressions of the community you visited and what the experience taught you.
• Those who live in poverty face the pressure of living from day-to-day. Do you think it is better for them to focus on making a living over pursuing an education? How might you incentivize the pursuit of education among those who live in poverty?

3. Societal and Cultural Context

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

• The novel explores the consequences of the Khmer Rouge and the Cambodian genocide. How does the setting of Stung Meanchey represent the legacy of the Khmer Rouge? How do Sang and Ki’s circumstances reflect the social effects of the party’s repressive policies?
• How does the relationship between Sang and Soriyan represent Wright’s vision of restoration in Cambodia? What factors are necessary for the Cambodian people to recover from the trauma caused by the Khmer Rouge?
• Nisay’s medical treatment leans into the dichotomy between Western medicine and folk remedy. How does this dichotomy suggest the common misconception that Western countries are more advanced than Eastern countries? How does the novel address this misconception?

4. Literary Analysis

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

• Discuss how Sang’s motivations evolve throughout the novel. How does her developing literacy impact her sense of empathy for others? What does this suggest about the importance of literacy and its influence on social behavior?
• How do dreams help Sang to fulfill her character arc in the novel? Do you think dreams are an artificial device simply meant to move the plot forward, or do they have a symbolic meaning as well?
• Explore the ways the prose helps to develop your mental image of Stung Meanchey. Take note of the particular descriptions or adjectives that help to color in the setting. Comparing your mental image to pictures of the real-life Stung Meanchey, assess whether or not the novel succeeded in capturing the spirit of its setting.
• What role does Ki play in the narrative? Discuss his function in the dynamic between Sang and Soriyan, which provides the dramatic tension for the novel.

5. Creative Engagement

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Fables are an important source of instruction, though the novel is careful about taking these lessons at face value. Try to write a short fable, then read it to your book club. Can the group identify what lesson the fable is trying to teach? What might their insights reveal about the way you tell stories?
• Do you think the residents of Stung Meanchey accept the revised fable about Sopeap Sin? How might they react to the implication that the previous fable they believed in was a “lie” all along?

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