The Villa

Motherhood and childbirth is often used as a metaphor for artistic production. In what ways are motherhood and childbirth treated in The Villa? Consider positive and negative treatment.

Research Orvieto. What does Hawkins’s choice of this real town bring to the fictional setting of the novel? What connections exist between the city’s history and the events that occur in the villa?

Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours looms large as an influence for Hawkins and The Villa, especially Lara’s album Aestas. Compare some of Fleetwood Mac’s lyrics to Lara’s and consider how their influence alters the narrative.

How does the novel depict female friendship? Is it a positive or negative force? Support your response with evidence from the text.

True crime has become increasingly popular, with documentaries and podcasts proliferating about famous murders. How does The Villa combine true crime and the Gothic?

How does The Villa explore ideas of multiple or complex identities, whether real or presented?

The novel’s central characters are all female. Consider how and why Hawkins does this. What function do the supporting male characters have?

The echo of the past and its repetition, along with the violence and pain the novel depicts suggest that trauma plays a role in the narrative. How does trauma operate in the novel and contribute to the meaning of the novel?