Deep Cuts

Much like Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Brickley’s novel traces a creative partnership over several years. What are the characteristics of strong collaboration? How do Percy and Joe exemplify (or fail to live up to) the standards that Brickley imposes on them? How might their partnership be compared to the one in Zevin’s novel?

The novel captures the anxiety that marked the War on Terror and the Great Recession. How does the novel use these events to frame the politics of music consumption? Is Percy a politically passive character, or does her experience exemplify ways to navigate troubling times?

What romantic tropes (if any) appear in Brickley’s novel? Based on your answer, would you call this novel a literary romance, or would you categorize it under a different genre? Explain the reasoning behind your choice.

By writing about real-life songs, Brickley utilizes a literary device called musical ekphrasis, describing the songs with the intent of conveying emotions through language. Is it necessary to know the songs she’s writing about, or does the musical ekphrasis fulfill its function?

How does the novel tackle the question of aesthetic taste? Is Percy necessarily right about all her musical opinions? If so, discuss what makes her an authority. If not, how do you reconcile the tensions between your opinion and her opinion?

Is the novel too nostalgic about the music of the past? How does it reckon with emerging trends in culture, especially pop music? Does Percy’s taste ever diverge from the cultural mainstream?

Raj criticizes Percy for being “obsessive about inconsequential things, like song lyrics” (159). Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? What is the novel’s position on the role that “inconsequential” things play in making a life? Cite examples aside from song lyrics to support your answer.

Zoe disproves the assertion that Percy needs an overlap in musical taste to form a deep connection with someone. How does Zoe influence Percy, aside from the specific advice that she provides in the middle of the novel? How does Percy begin to resemble Zoe by the end of the novel?