Big Swiss

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of mental illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Beagin’s narrative explores voyeurism through Greta’s work transcribing therapy sessions. What was your reaction to this issue? Did you connect to this focus, or did it detract from your experience? 

2. What aspects of Greta’s character development most surprised you as her relationship with Big Swiss evolved throughout the novel?

3. If you’ve read Beagin’s earlier novels Pretend I’m Dead or Vacuum in the Dark, what thematic connections do you notice across her work? If this is your first Beagin novel, which elements of her writing style most stood out to you?

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

1. Big Swiss is a novel concerned with the boundaries between healthy curiosity and problematic voyeurism. How has this issue manifested in your own life or in modern society?

2. Both Greta and Big Swiss respond differently to trauma: Greta flees from it while Big Swiss confronts it. Which character’s approach resonates more with your own understanding of processing difficult events?