As Bright As Heaven

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, child death, and substance use.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your favorite storyline or character?

2. What were some of the most vivid or emotional scenes? Explain.

3. Compare this book to others by Meissner, including Secrets of a Charmed Life, A Fall of Marigolds, The Nature of Fragile Things, or Only the Beautiful. Though the historical events and backgrounds of these books are quite different, what common themes or character arcs do you observe?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Reflect on how the various characters deal with the tragedy of losing family members. Have you had a similar experience with grief?

2. Did the parts about the 1918 influenza pandemic remind you in any way of the COVID-19 pandemic? In what ways could you relate?

3. What did you think of Jamie’s experience of war? Have you personally experienced or observed others who have been traumatized by war? What did you find the most relatable or realistic about Jamie’s portrayal?

4. What do you make of the book’s overall argument about fixing things, moving forward, and finding bright spots in the midst of loss?

5. What do you think Pauline meant about making the right choice? What does the right choice consist of? How does one know if a choice is indeed right?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Discuss how the book deals with certain beliefs or prejudices—for instance, Fred’s strong patriotism and disdain for “slackers,” Dora Sutcliff’s feeling that those who consume or abuse alcohol are “dirty dogs and scum,” or even dislike for the Weiss family because of their German background. What might Meissner be saying through this?

2. Discuss how the activities and culture of Prohibition can be interpreted as a reaction to the tragedies of World War I or the influenza. Do these attitudes in any way speak to the novel’s themes of resilience or recovery?

3. Discuss how the 1918 influenza pandemic provides both context and conflict for the novel. How does Meissner’s real-world setting compare to other fictional treatments of pandemics, like The Stand by Stephen King, Year One by Nora Roberts, or Severance by Ling Ma?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Discuss Pauline’s “spectral companion” as a metaphor for her grief. What role do you think her relationship with death plays in the novel? Can it be viewed as a friendship?

2. Discuss the ways in which the family’s loss and grief over the death of Henry go on to inflect much of the action. In what ways is Alex a foil to—or replacement for—Henry?

3. Discuss what the setting of Philadelphia adds to the book. You may wish to consult the Author’s Note to discuss Meissner’s reasons for her choice.

4. What would you argue is the novel’s central argument or theme? Which character or philosophy do you think best sums up this perspective?

5. Discuss what the funeral home as a whole means to the different characters and how it plays a symbolic role within the book.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Write an epilogue in which another character (for instance, Thomas, Pauline, Jamie, or Dora) reflects on events.

2. Curate a playlist of songs for Willa to perform at the Landmark. (The songs may be from the period, or they may not). Discuss how each song works thematically to connect to the events of the novel.

3. Imagine that one of the characters travels in time to our modern era. Describe their comments or assessments of the conflicts, trends, or problems of the world today, given their background and perspective.

Need more conversation starters? Inspire your group with our Discussion Questions tool.