The Irish Goodbye

The novel uses a rotational multi-perspective narrative structure that spans different timelines. How does this narrative choice impact the novel’s themes? Would the themes have been as clear if the novel were narrated by a single narrator? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

Alice’s young son James compares Topher’s death to “an Irish goodbye […] when you leave without saying goodbye” (213). In light of James’s statement, examine the significance of the novel’s title. How does the title tie in with the novel’s themes and the motivations of various characters?

Early in the novel, Isabel asks Maggie to describe each of her family members in one word. Considering Maggie’s responses, examine if the characters fit her perceptions of them. How is each character similar or different from what Maggie perceives?