1. What interesting and
complex narrative effects result from the narrator having such
difficulty with her memory?
2. Consider the prominent image of summer squash in the novel. What
connotations does it add to the story? What are the various effects of
the repeated references?
3. What key details are introduced in the Prologue?
4. How does the consistent shift from present to past affect the telling
of the story? How does the author transition between them?
5. In Chapter 1 there are several allusions to
Little Red Riding Hood. In what ways might this fairy tale be relevant
to the story?
6. Carla, one of Maud's caregivers, often tells of horrible crimes she's
read about in the news. What does this add to the novel? How does it
affect Maud?
7. What is the difference between something or someone being missing,
lost, or gone? Consider various points of view.
8. In what relevant ways does the war--and all the lengthy separations
it causes — affect the people and relationships in the novel?
9. What is the importance and effect of "the mad woman" throughout the
novel?
10. Consider Douglas and Frank. Both seemingly have moments of menace
and kindness. In what ways are they similar or different?
11. In Chapter 10, Maud, having forgotten what room she was headed to,
says, "I must be going mad." In what ways is she similar to or different
from the mad woman?
12. What does the subject of Maud's childhood illness add to the story?
13. Throughout her life, but especially once her sister Sukey goes
missing, Maud collects random, found objects. In what various ways do
physical objects come to possess meaning or value?
14. Of what particular significance to the novel is the detail of Maud
collecting "boxes full of disintegrating bees and wasps and beetles"?
15. At one point, speaking to Frank, Maud denies that she has secrets,
but then admits to liking the idea. In what ways might secrets be
important? How can they be unhealthy?
16. Late in the novel, Maud touches something of her sister's and says,
"The contact makes it possible to breathe again." What is she
experiencing?
17. What does Maud's granddaughter Katy bring to the novel?
18. Consider the Epilogue. What is the effect of ending the novel with
the lyric swirl of Maud's receding memories?