Home Is Where the Bodies Are

How is life in the small town of Allen’s Grove characterized? To what extent does the location affect the events in the novel?

The past looms large in Home Is Where the Bodies Are. How does it cast its shadow over the present? Give three examples of situations that seem driven by past events.

Laura leaves a lengthy posthumous confession of her past misdeeds. How might she have acted differently during her life? What motivated her choices? What aspects of her personal history might have shaped her decisions?

Graves are a ubiquitous feature of the novel. What function do they perform for the characters? Do they fail or succeed in accomplishing this goal?

Michael’s life is quite different from his sisters’ lives. How does he perceive himself in relation to them? Does their perception of him match up with this opinion? Do Beth and Nicole feel differently by the end of the novel?

All the novel’s main characters exhibit trust issues. Pick three individuals and discuss how they fail to trust others or themselves. How does this lack of trust impair their judgment?

How does drug addiction affect the lives of the characters in the story? In what ways is it used as a device to drive the plot forward?

Everyone in Allen’s Grove seems to be keeping a secret. Is this a wise strategy? What are the consequences of trying to suppress the truth? Give some examples to illustrate your conclusion.