Imagine Me Gone (Haslett) - Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions
We'll add publisher questions if and when they're available; in the meantime use our LitLovers talking points to get a discussion started for Imagine Me Gone...then take off on your own:

1. Had you been Margaret—or even yourself—would you have made the same choice to marry John?

2. In attempting to explain the nature of depression to Margaret, the doctor tells her: "You could say the mind closes down. It goes into a sort of hibernation." Before reading Imagine Me Gone, what was your understanding of depression? Having read Haslett's book, have your views been altered...or confirmed?

3. Was it irresponsible of John to marry Margaret and father three children? What about his suicide?

4. Talk about the children of this union and their relationship with both their parents and with one another, especially with Michael.

5. If his father's mind is given to "hibernation," how would you describe Michael's mind? How does it differ from his father's?

6. A good deal of Michael's inner workings are revealed in his letters and his responses on medical forms. What do we learn of his reality?

7. Consider Alex's desire to spirit Michael away to Maine. Was the outcome inevitable? Was Michael naive?

8. Follow-up to Question #7 Were you taken by surprise at that outcome?

9. What does this book suggest about our responsibility to care for one another, despite constant and expected disappointment? Is there a point in which utter hopelessness gives us permission to no longer attempt active care?

(Questions by LitLovers. Please feel free to use them, online or off, with attribution. Thanks.)

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