1. Peck's presentation of the music of Connie Carlson's era is not fiction; songs and musicians mentioned are real. As Shep the pianist sees it, Connie's desire to be only a part of the orchestra rather than having the orchestra as background for the voice is what sets Connie apart from other singers. Listen to some of the vocals from the late 1930s and 1940s and explain the styles of Big Band singers and what Shep might mean by his observation. Some helpful jazz histories are Andre Hodeir's Jazz: Its Evolution and Essence (1956) and Marshall Stearns's The Story of Jazz (1956).

2. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's On Death and Dying (1969) generated much discussion about our emotional responses to death. Read the book and analyze Connie's behavior to determine her responses to death.

3. Drinking has caused Shep's marriage and career to fail. Connie provides Shep with...