Eight Hundred Grapes

Consider how Dave represents unfaithfulness in Eight Hundred Grapes. How do the characters’ attitudes toward unfaithfulness shape the overall plot and the rationality of their decisions?

Explore the role of secrets and revelations in the plot. How do hidden truths come to impact characters, relationships, and the structure of the novel?

The title of Eight Hundred Grapes refers to the number of grapes considered necessary to make one bottle of wine. What do these grapes represent in the novel?

The story often fluctuates between Georgia’s two-week timeline when she returns to Sonoma County and flashbacks to her parents’ past. What is the effect of intermingling these two timelines?

The coordinates of the novel include London, New York, Los Angeles, and Sonoma. How does Dave use setting in the novel?

Consider how many miscommunications occur between the characters in Eight Hundred Grapes. How does effective or ineffective communication drive the plot and character development?

Compare and contrast the characters who prioritize financial stability over passion, like Bobby and Georgia, with those who choose to follow their dreams despite the uncertainty. How does Dave portray risk in relation to dreams?

In Eight Hundred Grapes, the family vineyard is named The Last Straw. Explore the literal and metaphorical significance of this name.