Topic 1

What view of marriage does the novel present? Is it possible to have a close, fulfilling marriage? How are Maggie’s and Ira’s view of their marriage different?

Topic 2

Discuss the various stages of Maggie and Ira’s journey? How do the stages interact with one another or lead to one another? What do the various stages mean to Ira and to Maggie? How do they develop their characters?

Topic 3

Discuss the childhood backgrounds of Maggie and Ira. How were their families different from one another? Similar? Compare their current family with Jesse and Daisy with the families of their childhood. Are there any major differences or similarities?

Topic 4

What does the game of solitaire mean in the novel? Why is it specifically Ira’s game? What does it suggest about Ira’s character?

Topic 5

The characters of the novel have a great deal of...