The Interestings Theme of Lies and Deceit

There's a whole lot of lying in The Interestings. Seriously. Ash lies about Goodman to Ethan, Ethan lies to Ash about not being able to come to Mo's appointment… Wait a second… It seems like most of the lying goes on between Ash and Ethan. Sure, Jules also knows about Goodman, but she's forced into that and sworn to secrecy by the Wolfs. So what's up with lies and deceit then? In this book, they're definitely tied to the kind of privilege and success Ethan and Ash and the Wolfs have. Instead of mo' money, mo' problems, it's mo' money, mo' lies for this crew.

Questions About Lies and Deceit

  1. Why do you think Jules never calls out Ash on being a hypocrite about lying to Ethan?
  2. Is it fair of the Wolf family to bring Jules along to Iceland without giving her the option to refuse to hear their secret?
  3. What's different or similar about Jules and Dennis' relationship as compared to Ethan and Ash's when it comes to lying?
  4. Is any of the lying or deception in the book useful? Why or why not? How does this contribute to the significance of this theme?