The Body Artist is a slim volume, but it attempts to cover broad topics, such as perceptions of time, the process of memory and coping with death. These three areas all concern intensely personal situations, so discussions might draw on personal experience as well as DeLillo's text. DeLillo has tackled big issues before, but none of his significant works thus far use the intimate approach that DeLillo employs in this novella.

1. DeLillo includes two chapters that depart stylistically from the narration and take the form of an obituary and a news or magazine article. What is the significance of the two different forms? What does including them affect the way we read that information? Why do you think DeLillo would choose to do this?

2. DeLillo, through Mariella's article, spends a fair amount of time placing Lauren within the context of other performance artists. Why? How does...