Lola in the Mirror

Dalton’s writing is detailed, including the names of real places, facts and statistics, and lived experiences of Brisbane’s unhoused population. What is the narrative effect of integrating nonfiction elements within the fictional novel?

Water takes many shapes in this novel. Although this guide explores the motif of the river, consider rain as a separate motif. Using evidence from the text, what does it represent?

Examine Dalton’s depictions of gender dynamics, particularly as they relate to violence and abuse. How does the novel examine the violent effects of patriarchy? How do the men in the novel embody or challenge traditional notions of masculinity?

Lola’s relationship with the mirror blurs the line between self-reflection and self-doubt. How does the mirror function as both a tool for self-discovery and a source of confusion or distortion in Lola’s life?

Structure can influence a narrative as much as the words themselves. Analyze Lola’s sketches, the museum labels, and the shifts to E.P. Buckle’s narration. Why are each necessary in the novel? What do they offer to the novel’s themes, character arcs, and plot development?

Analyze the significance of the Brisbane River, on which the narrative is primarily set. How does the river function as a character in the novel? How does it mirror Lola’s experiences and emotions?

Throughout the novel, positive and negative power dynamics often influence Lola’s interactions with other characters. How do these relationships shape Lola’s sense of agency and autonomy?

Memory plays a central role in the novel, as Lola often revisits past moments. In the context of magical realism, how do the novel’s supernatural or fantastical elements, like the mirror, interact with Lola's memories? What does the blurred line between memory and reality reveal about Lola’s struggles?