Reading Group Guide
These are just some suggestions of points that could be discussed, they aren’t all there is to discuss. These points of discussion are designed to help you the reader better appreciate the novel, even at a deeper level (from characterization, plot, themes and more). This isn’t the definite guide and more reveals and discussions will be had on my platforms. Enjoy pondering and appreciating!
Discussion Points
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If Macxermllio and Macfearson are imaginary how much of the story has happened and what are the implications of this fact?
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What does having imaginary friends reveal about Sandy Macxermillian’s character? Is he divided within himself, is this a helpful coping mechanism or does it worsen his delusions? What does it imply about his sense of morality or conscience?
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What does the death of Macxermillio and the scene signify/mean to the character and to the story as a whole?
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What does Kim Besert mean to Sandy and why did so much depend upon how she treats him as compared to Krissy?
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Why is what happens in the bar so significant to Sandy Macxermillian?
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In the end what is the most accentuated theme in the novel, the struggle against suicidal and/or homicidal urges, the search for belonging, social exclusion, trust/betrayal or death?
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What aspect about death is mostly explored in the story? (E.g. it’s ability to bring solace and comfort, a bridge to other modes of existence, a tool of complete annihilation, the liveliest thing about life etc.) And why is that?
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What seems to be the point of the novel?
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What is the meaning of the calling? What characteristics/symptoms does it allude to about the nature of mental illness, especially about depression, and suffering from it?
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What might have influenced the author to name the main character Sandy and what does it do for the novel?
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The author has said in an interview, about the novel, “it reeks of my struggle with chronic depression, anxiety and inattentive ADHD” and, about the period it was written, he had “a couple of suicide attempts”, he was “in and out of hospital”, “had a near death experience” so “death and suicide were concepts that occupied my mind”. Does this translate into the novel?
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What could be said the novel reveals about the nature of depression?
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Does the novel provide a first-hand account of being a delusional depressive? To what extent and how? What do you think?
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The end, Chapter 14, what is it all about or mean? How does it fit, if it does at all, to the whole story?
