Rouge

Noelle chose the nickname Belle for her daughter, which is the French word for “beautiful.” In what ways do you think this set Belle up to be obsessed with beauty and vanity? How do you think this lays the groundwork for her behaviors?

Belle grows up disliking her appearance to the point where she is convinced she may even be part ogre. While this might be fairly extreme, in what ways does her comparison reflect our society and the ways little girls start to see themselves by a certain age? What in our world might contribute to this?

Belle’s narration includes frequent rhetorical questions she seems to be asking herself. She often ends sentences and thoughts with “remember?” or “didn’t I?” What does this tell you about her mentality or her state of mind as a child? Does this reveal anything of her as a narrator?

Noelle’s war with her vanity plays a significant role throughout Rouge. In what specific ways are her tendencies directly mirrored by Belle? What does this convey about self-image as a generational struggle?

Do you find that your self image is a reflection of your parents or the people you grew up with? Were there ever instances, positive or negative, that have stuck with you and continue to play a part in your confidence?

Belle watches Marva’s skincare videos almost obsessively. What do you think it is about Marva that draws Belle in? What keeps Belle believing just about everything Marva says?

Do you find that you are easily influenced in the way Belle seems to be when it comes to beauty products? What is it that usually convinces you that you need to buy/use something? Is this a habit you would ideally like to see yourself break?

Noelle often makes judgmental remarks about Belle’s beauty regimens and gimmicks—such as her collagen smoothies—despite having her own identical behaviors. What might cause a parent to look down upon something their child does despite doing it themselves? Do you think this is intentional or something Noelle does without realizing?

Rouge uses many scent descriptors, with particular scents often being attributed to specific characters or settings. What do you think those scent pairings (such as Noelle’s smoke and violets) represent when it comes to that character or location? What are some scents that you associate with a certain person or place, and what does it make you feel when you smell them?

Even before her treatments there are times where it seems Belle has some gaps in her memory and can’t quite pinpoint where some of her knowledge comes from or why she cannot remember parts of her past. What might elicit this response from a person, and what does it tell us about Belle’s life even before her the reasons for her memory loss are detailed to us?

Belle describes her morning routine as being “all about protection” and a way to “arm ourselves for the day” (99). Is there anything you do daily that you might consider a means of “arming” yourself? What about that particular thing makes you feel protected?

During Belle’s first free treatment at Rouge, the “whispering woman” explains how “memory and skin go hand in hand” (136)—that with good memories comes good skin, and with bad memories comes bad skin. While there is no truth to this statement in real life, many times we do have physical reminders of our memories. Do you have any memories, good or bad, that have left you with physical reminders?

Belle mentions feeling like her white mother is a liar and a thief whenever she sees her dressing or making herself up to look Egyptian, as this look is a choice for her mother where it isn’t for Belle. She also repeatedly used the word “whiteness” instead of “brightness” when talking about the Glow. What does this imply about the way Belle sees race in relation to beauty?

What is the significance of the jellyfish that Rouge keeps in its establishment?

The color red is pointed out consistently throughout Rouge. What might the color symbolize in the context of this story? What does it seem to imply whenever it is used?

There is a great deal that must be sacrificed in order to obtain “the Glow” from Rouge and become your “Most Magnificent Self.” However, many of the Rouge patrons and employees claim it is all worth it. Does this speak to the ways our own society operates as well? How far do you think most people in the real world are willing to go for beauty?

Sylvia eventually tells Belle she is looking better lately. When Belle presses and asks Sylvia how she looks, she replies, “Like you” (360). Do you think Belle is any closer to truly being her “Most Magnificent Self” in the end? How do you think her journey has affected her general view of her mother, grief, and beauty?

What would it look like for someone to actually become their “Most Magnificent Self” in the real world? What are some traits your “Most Magnificent Self” would have?

How did this story make you feel about vanity? Is there an overall message to be learned in this book that we can reflect on and apply to our own relationships with beauty and self-image?