Reading Guide Questions
![Print Excerpt](/site/images/icons/print.png)
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- As the novel begins, Dennis is six months sober. What challenges does the decision to start the book at that point in his story present for the narrative? What about opportunities?
- How would you describe the narrative structure of this book? How does that structure shape your understanding of Dennis as a character or of the experience of sobriety?
- Dennis is going through cycles, drifting through Philadelphia, almost like a wandering samurai. Which literary archetypes does Dennis either fit into or remind you of? Why?
- The book is significantly about gentrification. Dennis and his acquaintances are mostly outsiders— young professionals—who have moved into South Philadelphia. Dennis is both similar to his associates—he's a young professional from out of town—and different—he's unemployed and can neither pay rent nor afford to buy a home. Where does he fit into the gentrification narrative?
- Do you think this novel could take place in any other city, or is Philadelphia (and specifically South Philadelphia) an essential character in this particular story? How might a change in setting affect the narrative?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Astra House.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.