The novel's major themes — death, creativity, marriage and relationships — are mysteries that no one can fully explain. To the author's credit, she does not try to sum any of them up in a simple prescription, although her hand can be seen in the way the mysteries are shaped in the story. This adds to the book's potential for interesting discussion. The story situations can be looked at directly, or used as a springboard for larger implications. Or even for considering how much art imitates life, and vice versa, as some of the character dynamics contradict usual fictional and real-life patterns.

1. What if Francis had been the one with an untimely fatal illness? Would Magda have tended him so patiently to the end? If she did not, would her conscience have bothered her?

2. Would Alice's depression over the baby's death have lasted so long if...