Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club

Bear Jaw changes enormously throughout the novel. How do these changes affect the town socially, economically, and culturally?

How do daughters make decisions in the face of their mothers’ approval or disapproval? How does this aspect of these layered relationships play out?

Ned’s perspective stands out in a novel that speaks largely about the relationships between women. How do Ned’s experiences with his family differ from those of the novel’s women?

Is the novel optimistic about the future? Look at multiple characters’ timelines to construct your argument.

Close read at least two examples of eating or drinking in the novel. How do these descriptions play into characterization or the novel’s themes?

Examine how the novel approaches wealth and poverty. How does economic status affect characters’ perspectives?

What do parents owe their children? What do children owe their parents? How do mismatched assumptions about these obligations affect familial dynamics?

How does the novel approach sexuality and desire? What limitations and freedoms do fulfilled and unfulfilled desires lead to?