Discuss the symbolic relationship between Bird's maps of Africa and his growing to accept responsibility for his life and child. What do the maps represent in Bird's life? How does his rejection of Himiko's intention to help him fulfill his dreams of Africa relate to his eventual decision to be a father to his child?

Discuss the symbolic value of the return of the gang that attacked Bird (Chapter 1) at a moment in his life when he is making the strongest moral decision of his life and the gang is having an experience of being wounded (Chapter 11).

Several times throughout the narrative (most notably in Chapters 10 and 12), the author interjects brief references to the increasing threat of nuclear war. What do you think is the connection between these references and the primary narrative line (i.e. Bird's choice of what to do about his...