Examine Adichie’s memoir in the context of other bereavement memoirs. For example, how does Adichie’s title align with or diverge from the content and themes of titles like Elizabeth McCracken’s The Hero of This Book or Sloane Crosley’s Grief is for People?

Explore how Adichie’s relationship with James relates to her sense of self. How does losing James in turn result in a crisis of identity?

Consider Adichie’s contention that grief is difficult to render in language. How does this intersect with the depiction of grief as a physical experience?

Explore the differences between Adichie’s personal mourning experience and traditional mourning practices in Igbo culture. What is the significance of these divergences?

Analyze the role of the COVID-19 pandemic on Adichie’s grieving process. How does this cultural context dictate the essay’s overarching mood and the evolution of Adichie’s tone?

Consider the symbolism of James’s watch. How does it further Adichie’s themes of loss, transformation, and inheritance?

Analyze Adichie’s use of humor throughout the essay. Cite specific examples from the text and explore how they lend nuance to or complicate Adichie’s overarching arguments surrounding death and loss.

Explore how Adichie’s cross-cultural identity and experience relate to her navigation of loss. How would Adichie’s account differ if she were not Nigerian American?