by William Gay
Many of William Gays characters in this collection have wonderfully colorful names. Why do you suppose “The Paperhanger” is never given a name beyond this moniker?
In “The Man Who Knew Dylan,” Crosswaithe is a complicated character with a varied past. How have women shaped Crosswaithe’s past, present, and future?
In “Those Deep Elm Brown’s Ferry Blues” Alzheimer’s is setting in on Scribner. Discuss the ways in which his mental deterioration is made manifest.
In “Crossroads Blues,” the main character, Karas, encounters a curious man named Borum who claims that “everything has its price.” How does this dictum relate to the story as a whole?
In the story “Closure and Roadkill on the Life’s Highway,” do you think Raymer, the jilted husband, finally gets the “closure” he admits he needs? Do you think old man Mayfield is telling the truth about the money? If not, then what are his motives for creating the tale?
In “Sugarbaby,” Finis and Doneita Beasley have been happily married for thirty years. Finis shoots his wife’s dog and does nothing to stop her when she leaves the next day. Why do you think he is so indifferent? What comment does it make about their marriage? Was Finis really happy or just going along with the routine?
Bender, the protagonist in “Standing by Peaceful Waters,” has a recurring dream in which there is a ravenous wolf. What does the wolf represent? Discuss the wolf’s symbolic role in the story. How do Bender’s dreamworld and reality blur?
In “Good ’Til Now,” Vangie finally decides to leave her husband on the day her lover, Robert Vandaveer, turns up dead. Do you think Vangie will still have the courage to leave? Robert credits fate with his meeting Vangie. What role does fate ultimately play in the story?
In “The Lightpainter,” Tidewater gets his name from the ability to capture light in his paintings. In what other ways does this name suit him? Why do you think he takes such a liking to Jenny? Does Tidewater have a superhero complex?
When Angie parks the car in a seedy neighborhood in Nashville in the story “My Hand Is Just Fine Where It Is,” Worrel worries that “at any moment everything could alter.” Discuss how this statement seems to describe the nature of their relationship.
Of the collection, what is your favorite story? Who is your favorite character? Why?
15. What themes do you notice appear throughout the collection of stories?
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