Virgil Wander

Discuss Virgil’s relationship with women. How does Kate’s rejection affect him? What perspectives does the text offer about gender?

Trace the theme of loss throughout the novel. How does the novel address several types of loss? Which characters are affected most by loss?

Analyze the novel’s depiction of youth versus age. How are both the young and the old shown to be important in a community?

Consider Jerry Fandeen’s character. What role does he play in the story? What is the significance of his disappearance at the end?

Analyze the role of morality in the story. How do Virgil and others like Don Lean hold moral absolutes loosely when dealing with their neighbors? What does the novel suggest about the value of engaging with moral gray areas?

Discuss the interplay of magical realism and everyday life throughout the story. How do the magical elements function symbolically within the story? How do they advance the plot?

In what ways does the novel address the American Midwestern identity? How does the novel celebrate the uniqueness of small-town life?

Discuss the role of language in the story. What is the significance of Virgil losing only his adjectives? Since he is the narrator, how does this loss impact the style in which the story is told?