Looking For Salvation at the Dairy Queen

Analyze the relationship between the novel’s structure and its thematic examinations of salvation. How do the biblically inspired chapter titles subvert and elevate Catherine Grace Cline’s personal quest for a secular salvation?

Explore the narrative and thematic significance of the novel’s point of view. What does Catherine Grace’s first-person narration imply about her search for autonomy? How does the incorporation of the epistolary form in Part 2 disrupt and contribute to Catherine Grace’s narrative of escape?

Write an essay that explores the significance of micro settings to Catherine Grace’s journey toward salvation. How do spiritual spaces (like Cedar Grove Baptist Church and Nottely Lake) and secular locations (like the Dairy Queen) impact Catherine Grace differently? Consider how the novel deconstructs the church as the sole arbiter of grace over the course of Catherine Grace’s narrative.