- One of the structural events in the book is Goodman's alleged rape of Cathy—do you think he did it, and, regardless, does it matter either way to the story?
- The novel is in three parts, but the narrative jumps around in time, so why divide it that way?
- Ethan's skin cancer comes across as way out of left field (even with the supposed foreshadowing), so why do you think Wolitzer chose that as the ending event?
- There's a pretty open and honest treatment of depression here that we don't often get in literature—in what ways does the book deal with depression that are different than other books you've read?
- Some reviewers have pointed out the similarities between Figland and something like The Simpsons, and if this is true, then what do you think the focus on family-based, satirical sitcoms says about the current era?