The Sequel

Anna publishes The Afterword at the start of the novel. Explore the ways in which writing the novel affords Anna authority over her story and fate. What is the novel about? How does she speak about the novel in public arenas, and how is the novel received?

The Sequel is written from the third-person limited point of view. Analyze the ways in which this narrative vantage point enacts Anna’s psychology and her experiences. What does the third-person limited perspective suggest about how Anna regards herself? How would the novel be different if it were written from Anna’s first-person point of view?

Craft an argument that supports the following claim: Anna’s childhood home is symbolic of trauma. Consider what she experiences in this setting as a child and how she regards the setting as an adult. How does the setting immerse her in unwanted memories of her past?

In what ways are all of Anna’s actions driven by her desire to erase her past? Do her efforts succeed or fail? In what ways does her past intrude upon her present, and why? How does she respond to these intrusions and what do they imply about the interconnection between temporal eras?

Explore the ways in which Anna embraces fiction over truth. What is her relationship to storytelling and how does she use storytelling as a tool? How does her regard for fiction in turn create a cultural commentary on contemporary art and the book market?

Craft an argument that supports the following claim: Anna is a sympathetic character. Consider the crimes she has committed. Consider the trauma she has experienced. Consider also how the narrative flashbacks provide insight into her inner world and psychological complexities.

Does Anna’s character change over the course of the novel? Craft an argument that either proves how she evolves because of her experiences or conveys her stagnancy despite them. Particularly consider how she behaves and presents herself at the novel’s start compared to at the novel’s end.

Explore how Betty Bessette and Arthur Pickens threaten Anna’s security. How do their threats and harassment affect Anna emotionally and psychologically? Do their actions compel Anna to reflect on who she’s been and what she’s done?