Questions and Topics for Discussion
1. The epigraph to the book reads, "This is not the book I wanted to write. This is not how it was supposed to be at all." What does this mean? Who is the speaker?
2. Is Adam Woods a reliable narrator? Do you trust him as the storyteller? Why or why not? What are examples of where he builds trust or breaks it? How would the story be different if it was written from the point of view of Gordon Crace or even an outsider?
3. The novel begins, "Wherever I went I saw a question mark at the heart of the city." This form of a question mark appears several other times throughout the book. What does this question mark represent? Does it represent something different for Adam than it does for the reader?
4. What are Adam's first impressions of Gordon Crace? Is Crace what he expected? Is he what you expected? Gordon Crace's house is poorly kept and covered in grime and dust. What does this reveal about him? What about his elaborate art collection? How does Crace's dingy residence clash with Adam's obsessive neat streak?
5. Discuss Winterborne Abbey and its relationship to Crace. Why does he have such a difficult time speaking about it?
6. Describe and discuss Adam's interpretation of Crace's frame of mind throughout the novel. Does his mental state change? If so, what are the indicators? When and how does it happen?
7. How does your view of Adam change throughout the novel? Out of the many things that he does, what is his w