A Thousand Boy Kisses

The novel is told from the perspectives of dual protagonists, Rune and Poppy. Why does Tillie Cole choose this method to write the novel? What would be different if the story was told from only Rune’s perspective or Poppy’s?

Though Poppy’s illness is the obvious conflict of the novel, the more active conflict is between Rune, Erik, and James. Why do these three masculine figures fight for control of their families and Rune and Poppy’s relationship? What are Erik’s and James’s motivations for interfering in their children’s relationship?

The novel is full of representations of impermanence and permanence, such as Rune’s love of photography and Poppy playing the cello. Pick two other scenes or symbols in the text that play into this dynamic. Why does Cole include these scenes or symbols, and how do they inform your understanding of Rune and Poppy’s love story?

Mamaw is only briefly present in the text, but she sets up both the dynamic of the 1,000 boy kisses and the mantra “moonbeam hearts and sunshine smiles” (15). Why does the novel use Mamaw to introduce these ideas? As the novel progresses, does Mamaw remain present despite having died? How and why?

Pick one of the songs mentioned in the text, such as “The Swan” from Carnival of the Animals or “If I Could Fly” by One Direction. Listen to the song and describe how it relates to the novel. Why did Cole choose the song, and what is its significance in the moment it occurs in the text?

Rune has a “bad boy” aesthetic, while Poppy would likely be called a “good girl.” Discuss the prevalence of this dynamic in the romance genre. How do both Rune and Poppy subvert these characterizations?

The novel has two chapters that serve as epilogues to the narrative proper. What do they add to the conclusion of the story? How do they work in conjunction with one another? For instance, why might Cole have chosen to jump forward 10 years and then backward again?

In the Epilogue, Cole confirms Poppy’s view of the afterlife, affirming the largely Christian allusions of the text. How does the novel portray Christian beliefs? What are Rune’s religious feelings, and how do they inform the text?