1. Does Kevin deliberately cause his father to relapse by telling him about Karen's plans to file for divorce? Support your answer with evidence.

2. Does Kevin want his suicide attempt to succeed or is he hoping to be stopped?

3. If Wren chooses to combine marriage and a career, will she be more successful than her mother?

4. Wren is quiet and serious, quite different from the women in Sam Holland's family. Why is he attracted to her?

5. Although Wren is younger than Kevin, in some ways she is more mature. In what ways is she more in control of her life than Kevin?

6. Wren and Kevin have an interesting brother/sister relationship. They support each other and never seem to quarrel. Is this realistic?

7. Bill Jackson remains a shadowy background figure. Why did Bridgers choose not to develop him as fully as Bliss? Would it be...