Bluebird, Bluebird

Notice the use of lists in the narrative, particularly lists of food and objects in a room. How does this technique serve to create a sense of place and set the tone in the novel?

What “red herrings,” or pieces of evidence are introduced? Are there places where the mystery seems to be solved, only to reveal a false resolution?

Analyze the power of Michael and Missy. How are they utilized in the narrative structurally and thematically?

The descriptions of food play a large role in the text. How does sensory imagery describe food in a way that makes it real? What role does Geneva’s cooking play thematically in the novel?

Does the complication of romantic feelings between Randie and Darren enhance or detract from the main storyline? How does this change the view of Darren as an officer of the law and as a person?

Analyze the layers of authority examined in the text, from those in familial structures to those in the legal and criminal justice system. How do specific characters try to upend or circumnavigate those rigid arrangements either in search of personal gain or in search of true justice?

Who is the villain in the story?

What is accomplished through the knowledge that Isaac Snow murdered Michael Wright?