Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How does this novel of Strout’s differ from Olive Kitteridge? If you’ve read her other novels, did you miss the familiar characters and settings, or did you become fully immersed in the focused story of the Dam family?

2. Artie’s story ends with his rapid mental and physical decline, which culminates in his death and Evie’s lonely discovery of the truth years later. Was this a fitting conclusion to the novel’s themes, or were you hoping for a different outcome?

3. What single scene or interaction has stayed with you, and what made that particular scene so memorable?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Artie finds his life’s purpose in teaching, and he has a life-altering impact on students like Danny Marino and Rhonda Lazarre. Have you ever been touched by the wise influence of a teacher, mentor, or elder? What qualities made their guidance so significant?

2. The friendship between Artie and his rescuer, Ken Moynihan, is genuine but can only survive if they actively avoid discussing politics. Have you ever had to navigate a friendship or family relationship with similar unspoken rules?

3. Feeling like an outsider is a recurring experience for Artie. Think about a time when you felt that you didn’t quite belong in a particular setting. How did you handle those feelings? How do your experiences compare to Artie’s attempts to maintain his identity?

4. When Artie learns that he isn’t Rob’s biological father, his love for his son deepens. What does this signify about the nature of familial love and belonging?

5. Several characters share their deepest pain with near-strangers. What moments in life allow for such sudden, raw vulnerability? Have you ever been surprised by an unexpected confession or found yourself sharing something personal in an unlikely situation?

6. Artie’s sense of identity is shaken when he realizes that his wife has kept a monumental secret from him for decades. Think about how your own core identity is shaped by the key relationships and accepted truths. How might you react if one of those foundational truths were suddenly destroyed?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel vividly portrays the “culture wars” of 2020s America. How does Strout seek to illustrate the impact of political polarization on local communities and institutions? To what extent do these scenes reflect current events or debates?

2. Artie’s growing depression is explicitly linked to his despair over the country’s political direction. How does the novel explore the idea that public events can cause deep private suffering?

3. After the election, Rob decides to move to Brussels, believing that “American intelligence can’t be trusted anymore” (193). What does his decision to leave the country suggest about the broader loss of faith in the United States’ institutions?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Strout use small, seemingly insignificant objects to reveal key aspects of her characters’ psychology?

2. The narrative includes several brief flash-forwards that reveal future events. How does this information create a sense of fatalism in the novel and/or change your interpretation of the characters’ present-day choices?

3. Within the world of the novel, what is the significance of the allusions to Carl Jung’s near-death experience and the concept of precognition?

4. Artie’s decision not to confront Evie creates a new, silent tension between them. Does the book offer any hope for genuine connection, or does it ultimately endorse Reginald’s view that “each man is an island” (15)?

5. How does the story develop its argument that paternal love is defined by presence and choice rather than biology?

6. Danny Marino offers a key insight when he suggests that for Shakespeare’s Othello, his “occupation” was loving Desdemona. How does this literary allusion apply to Artie’s own sense of purpose?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you must write one final scene that takes place between Rob and Evie, years after the events of the epilogue. What topics would their conversation include? Would they repair their relationship?

2. If Artie had decided to confront Evie immediately after Rob’s confession, how would that scene unfold? Write the dialogue that might have occurred and outline the immediate consequences for them and for Rob.

3. Consider the minor characters who were deeply affected by Artie’s presence in the world. Choose one and imagine what their life is like 10 years after the novel’s end. How did Artie’s kindness and mentorship continue to shape the person they became?