Which of the novel's kisses is "The Last Good Kiss" of its title—Catherine and Sughrue's at the airport? Stacy and Sughrue's after the rescue of Melinda/Betty Sue? Melinda/Betty Sue's and Sughrue's, also after the rescue? Or one of the other kisses? Explain your answer.

Consider the reference to the Cauldron Springs Hotel in "Objects/Places—The Hotel in Cauldron Springs". What is the metaphoric value of setting two of the novel's key confrontations (between Catherine and Sughrue in chapter seventeen and between Melinda/Betty Sue and the person who killed her in chapter nineteen) in this location?

In what ways does the corrupting influence of power and the desire for power play out in the novel? Who has power over whom? Who wants power over whom? How do people go about getting and/or manifesting power? Why do they...