Know My Name
A cozy book club night for Know My Name by Chanel Miller. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.
a close-knit club that values vulnerability, honest conversation, and holding space for hard but hopeful stories
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Chanel Miller's luminous memoir reclaims her voice after years of being known only as 'Emily Doe,' offering a deeply human story of healing, family, and finding language for the unspeakable.
Why it works for clubs
- Sparks tender, honest conversation about resilience and identity
- Miller's prose is lyrical and accessible, inviting close reading
- Themes of family, art, and self-recovery resonate across experiences
- Cultural relevance opens doors to gentle, meaningful reflection
Themes & mood
Warm-up questions
- 1 What small comfort (a blanket, a snack, a person to text) did you reach for while reading this book?
- 2 Where did you do most of your reading, and did the setting feel like the right place to sit with Chanel's story?
Digging in
- 1 Chanel writes a lot about her family and her sister. What moments of family warmth stayed with you, and did they remind you of anyone in your own life?
- 2 Art, baking, and writing show up as forms of mending throughout the book. What do you turn to when you need to feel like yourself again?
- 3 How did Chanel's voice on the page make you feel as a reader, almost like she was sitting next to you? Were there passages where you wanted to slow down and stay a while?
- 4 The book is called Know My Name. What does being truly known by the people in your life mean to you, and who in your world makes you feel that way?
Going deep
- 1 Were there moments that were hard to read but you were glad you read anyway? How did you take care of yourself through those pages?
- 2 By the end, what feeling did the book leave you with, and is there anything you want to carry into how you show up for the people around you?
On the table
To sip
soft, hopeful, and quietly resilient, like late evening light through a kitchen window
Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.
Run of show
Host tips
- Name the room a soft space at the start: passing is welcome, and emotional reactions are okay.
- Keep tissues, water, and an extra blanket within reach; small care goes a long way with a book like this.
- Have a low-stakes follow-up activity ready (browsing Chanel's artwork online together) for guests who want to stay after.
Come curl up with us for a gentle evening around Chanel Miller's Know My Name. Bring your softest sweater; we'll bring the cocoa and the conversation.
Trivia
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1
In what year was Know My Name first published?Answer: 2019
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2
Before publishing the memoir, Chanel Miller was publicly known by what pseudonym?Answer: Emily Doe
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3
Her viral victim impact statement was first published in full by what online outlet in 2016?Answer: BuzzFeed News
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4
Know My Name won which major nonfiction award given by the National Book Critics Circle in 2019?Answer: The John Leonard Prize for a best first book
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5
Besides writing, Chanel Miller is also widely known as what kind of visual artist?Answer: An illustrator (and visual artist)
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6
In what U.S. state is much of the memoir set?Answer: California
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7
Chanel Miller studied at which California university as an undergraduate?Answer: University of California, Santa Barbara
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8
What 2022 picture book did Chanel Miller write and illustrate for children?Answer: Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All (her illustrated children's project; she also created the animated short I Am With You)
Bookmarks
Rate the book
Print pack
- Question cards on soft cream cardstock
- Printable bookmarks with the three original lines
- Mug tags with guests' names for tea and cocoa
- Scorecards with a pencil tied in twine
- A small printed playlist card for the fridge
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