Discuss Virgil’s brush with death in the car crash, the pervasive appearance of the grim reaper figure, and Virgil’s pull toward him as he walks into the water. What does Virgil mean when he says, “Poor Virgil didn’t actually make it” (17)?

Discuss Virgil’s relationship with women. How does Kate’s rejection affect him? What perspectives does the text offer about gender?

Trace the theme of loss throughout the novel. How does the novel address several types of loss? Which characters are affected most by loss?