The Book of Doors

The Book of Doors, which gives the novel its title, is the center of the story and the hinge that divides the protagonist’s life into a “before” and “after.” Initially, it enters Cassie’s life as a gift from an acquaintance with whom she has a friendly but distant relationship. Eventually, she learns that her connection with both the book and the man who gifted it to her runs much deeper. In many ways, the Book of Doors can be seen as an extended metaphor for the power of books and storytelling in the wider world. It literally “opens doors” to far-off places and cultures, and it even allows one to revisit their memories of the past—all things attributed to the act of reading an engaging novel. Because of this, Cassie is a natural guardian of such an artifact; she is someone who believes deeply and intrinsically in the power of books. The Book of Doors is believed to be one of the most powerful in existence, giving its wielder the ability to be anywhere at any time.

As Izzy points out on several occasions, there is vast opportunity for abuse of such an object. This can be extrapolated into considerations of