The Bright Years

Sarah Damoff uses figurative language throughout The Bright Years to amplify the emotions and experiences of the characters. What are some examples of this use of figurative language, and how do the images they evoke advance both plot and characterization?

Throughout the novel, Damoff contextualizes the story with actual historical events that occurred during that time, such as the Vietnam War and 9/11. What effect does the inclusion of these events have on the novel, and how do they contextualize the lives of the characters?

The Bright Years examines how trauma resonates through generations of one family and explores the characters’ attempt to break the cycle. How do scenes in the Prologue and Epilogue, like Ryan and Apricity drawing, characterize Ryan’s efforts to break the cycle of trauma in his family?