Ingenious pain cover

Ingenious pain

by Andrew Miller

An 18th Century English surgeon is born immune to pain, making him oblivious to the suffering of others. This accounts for his professional success which attracts the attention of the Empress of Russia. On the way to treat her, he runs into a witch who gives him the sensation of pain. That sends him mad but he recovers, emerging from the asylum with the knowledge that without pain one is not really human.

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?