The Friend

Throughout the novel, Apollo the dog becomes a vehicle which helps the narrator process her complicated emotions. How is this depicted in the text?

By the penultimate chapter, it has become clear that there is a deft structural change to the narrative. How does this change affect the reading of the book, particularly in relation to the narrator?

Following the death of her friend, the narrator finds great comfort in the dog which she inherits. How does the narrator find comfort in the dog and how does the dog find comfort in her?

Numerous characters teach writing to classrooms of students, whether in college or therapy sessions. How does the act of teaching affect the teachers?

The novel is replete with references to the wider world of literature. What effect do these references have and how do they function in relation to the narrator’s emotional state?

The narrator enjoys a different relationship with each one of her friend’s ex-wives. How do these various relationships affect her mourning?

The narrator has no qualms about offering her opinion of other writers. How do these opinions relate to the story being told?

The narrator’s deceased friend has been accused of sexism in the past. How do sex and sexism affect his relationship with the narrator?