Sig reminds us time and again that everyone tells stories, even dead people—but if you're searching for ghosts and zombies, you're reading the wrong book. Sig if more interested in unraveling the story of his father's life—and death—for most of this book, and the big reveal at the end is that the story we've just read is one Sig wrote. While Revolver isn't exactly brimming with literary references (it's pretty much the Bible or bust in Sig's house), writing, literature, and storytelling still play an important part in the book.
Questions About Literature and Writing
- What does Einar mean when he tells Sig "even the dead tell stories"? Does it mean something different to Sig or Wolff? Is this true in the novel?
- Why does Sig end by telling us that he hopes we liked the story? Does it matter if we did?
- How would the story be different if it wasn't told by Sig? If Einar contributed to it, do you think it would be as interesting or mysterious?
- The soldier tells Sig his story is "too good to be forgotten" so he should write it down. Has anything happened in your life that's worth writing about? If you were going to write a novel, what would it be about?
Chew on This
Writing his story helps Sig deal with his family mystery and learn to live with the consequences of it.
Since we are addressed in the final chapter, we become a part of the novel. Whether or not the story is told or read depends on us.