1. Describe Deirdre's interest in Hakeem Kreutz, as compared to her interest Leslie White. What draws her to each of them?
2. "Why did he persist in coming here like this?" Quirke wonders about his own visits to the Judge. "Surely no one would blame him if he stayed away altogether and left the dying man to his angry solitude." Why does Quirke continue visiting, considering all that has happened between them?
3. "Do nothing, his better judgement told him; stay on dry land. But he knew he would dive, headfirst into the depths. Something in him yearned for the darkness down there." What is it in Quirke that pushes him toward the darkness? Does he find any relief in this story? Would he be better off ignoring his impulse?
4. Why do you think Kreutz's story of the girl brought back from the dead(page 61) makes such an impression on Dierdre? How does it relate to what we learn about her life?
5. Describe the relationship between Quirke and Hackett. Do the two like each other? What do they have in common?
6. Why do you think Phoebe gets involved with Leslie White? What is she hoping will happen between them?
7. Do you think Deirdre loves Leslie? If not, how would you characterize her feelings for him?
8. What effect do you think Phoebe's complicated parentage(the discovery of her real father; the role of Malachy and Sarah) has on her behavior in the novel? Do you see any connection between those effects and the effect on Quirke of being an orphan?
9. Look at the exchange between Rose and Phoebe on page 165 in which Phoebe tells Rose she admires her. What do you think she admires about Rose? And what does Rose mean when, in response, she says to Phoebe, "You certainly are your father's daughter"?
10. Do you think the relationship between Quirke and Kate is a healthy one? What brings them together? What do they get from each other?
11. Is Quirke a good father to Phoebe? How do you think he should be handling his role with her?
12. Why does Quirke fall off the wagon at the end of the story?
2. "Why did he persist in coming here like this?" Quirke wonders about his own visits to the Judge. "Surely no one would blame him if he stayed away altogether and left the dying man to his angry solitude." Why does Quirke continue visiting, considering all that has happened between them?
3. "Do nothing, his better judgement told him; stay on dry land. But he knew he would dive, headfirst into the depths. Something in him yearned for the darkness down there." What is it in Quirke that pushes him toward the darkness? Does he find any relief in this story? Would he be better off ignoring his impulse?
4. Why do you think Kreutz's story of the girl brought back from the dead(page 61) makes such an impression on Dierdre? How does it relate to what we learn about her life?
5. Describe the relationship between Quirke and Hackett. Do the two like each other? What do they have in common?
6. Why do you think Phoebe gets involved with Leslie White? What is she hoping will happen between them?
7. Do you think Deirdre loves Leslie? If not, how would you characterize her feelings for him?
8. What effect do you think Phoebe's complicated parentage(the discovery of her real father; the role of Malachy and Sarah) has on her behavior in the novel? Do you see any connection between those effects and the effect on Quirke of being an orphan?
9. Look at the exchange between Rose and Phoebe on page 165 in which Phoebe tells Rose she admires her. What do you think she admires about Rose? And what does Rose mean when, in response, she says to Phoebe, "You certainly are your father's daughter"?
10. Do you think the relationship between Quirke and Kate is a healthy one? What brings them together? What do they get from each other?
11. Is Quirke a good father to Phoebe? How do you think he should be handling his role with her?
12. Why does Quirke fall off the wagon at the end of the story?