1. What are psychiatric hospitals really like? Are they all as harsh as June and Tim say they are? Are most of them? Are many of them?

2. Read one of the novels to which Elise refers, such as Catcher in the Rye, A Member of the Wedding, or The Bell Jar, or see one of the movies, such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or Diabolique. Then, determine in what ways the novel you read or the movie you saw is similar to and different from Older Men. What did you learn about Older Men by reading the novel or seeing the movie?

3. Find some fairy tales, such as "Rapunzel," that deal with wicked witches, enchanted princesses, or imprisoned princesses. How are they related to Older Men? How does reading them help you better understand the novel?

4. How much does...