Pretty Things

The characters make several insightful points about social media and its potential to have a harmful impact on a person’s life. Choose a few quotes, and explain what they reveal about the novel’s message regarding the consequences of social media.

Though Nina and Vanessa came from different socioeconomic classes, they have a lot in common. How does Janelle Brown present their similarities and differences?

Mental health is a significant topic in Pretty Things. Through characters like Judith and Benny, discuss how Brown portrays mental health in the novel.

There are many infamous stories of grifters. Choose one—Anna Sorokin, Elizabeth Holmes, or Caroline Calloway, for example—and compare the presentation of them in the media with Brown’s presentation of Nina/Ashley, Lachlan/Michael, or Vanessa.

Using an example of the relationship between one male and one female character, analyze Brown’s portrayal of gender in the novel.

Consider the fact that Brown named her book Pretty Things. Who, and what, are the pretty things in the story? What is the effect of this title.

William James says that truth is a process: It is not something that stays the same, but it changes as a person’s experiences and perceptions evolve and shift. How does Pretty Things explore truth?

Brown frequently uses foreshadowing to warn the reader about what will happen. Review the novel, pick one example, and analyze how Brown achieves this instance of foreshadowing.