Why is Ruth driven to uncover and grapple with the truth about her mother's life and death?

Ruth's father has created a particular story for himself and his family. In the novel and in our own lives, how do family stories reverberate across generations?

The novel explores complex questions of identity and belonging. How do ethnicity, place, passion, and gender shape the characters in the novel? How have these and other factors shaped you?

Shimon and Phineas are so different from each other. What draws Ruth to each man? And what does she learn from her relationship with each?

The brownstone and the vale in the park are key settings in the novel. What does each represent to Ruth?