Discussions of The Hotel New Hampshire are likely to degenerate into arguments about the book's sexual content.

But for those who can push beyond the graphic sexuality, the novel can generate insights into the connection between violence and sexuality, the need for illusion, the definition of normality, and the response to evil.

1. How does birth order shape each of the Berry children's responses to their various moves and to their lives in various Hotels New Hampshire?

2. Which of the characters do you identify with the most? The least? How are you like and unlike these characters?

3. What connections can you draw between John Irving and John Berry?

4. How well does Irving, the male novelist, understand issues relating to rape?

5. What is the connection between rape and incest?

6. In what ways do Frank's and Susie's homosexuality differ? Is homosexuality learned or inherited?

7. This is a novel filled...