No Two Persons: A Novel

Alice is the author of the fictional novel Theo. What is her relationship to the novel, its story, and its protagonist? Why is Alice reluctant to publish the story? What does she fear will happen to Theo after publication, and why?

Many of the novel’s primary characters experience loss. Which characters encounter death, disappointment, or abandonment? How does loss impact each of these characters? How do they overcome their loss and pursue healing?

Compare and contrast Rowan’s, Tyler’s, and Nola’s characters. In what ways are the characters different from one another? What common questions do they ask? How do their relationships to books overlap? How does reading Theo alter each of their perspectives?

In what ways are all 10 of the primary characters isolated? Describe each of their living situations. How do their physical environments alienate them? What role do their relationships play in their isolation? Do the characters seek out intimacy? If so, how? If not, why?

No Two Persons subverts novelistic conventions. How is the novel deconstructing and reinventing familiar structures, styles, and forms? What is the purpose of these formal reconfigurations? How do the narrative structure and form enact the characters’ experiences and the novel’s themes?

Subtle connections arise between the characters over the course of the novel. These connections are not limited to Theo. Identify and describe these connections. Are these narrative threads tangible or subtextual, and why? How and why does Bauermeister use recurring diction, metaphor, and imagery to foster deeper hinges between her characters?

Why does Alice dream of becoming a writer when she is a child? What does she hope to do as a writer? How do her artistic dreams change over the course of her adolescence and adulthood? What role do her relationships play in her creative evolution?

As a visual artist, Miranda is the only character whose interaction with Theo does not involve reading the novel. Her sculpture, with wings made from the pages of the book, reappears in the novel’s Epilogue. How does her repurposing of the physical material of the book complicate Bauermeister’s exploration of the relationship between author and audience?