By Gaslight - Week 13 (April 10th), Chapters 44- The End

[Zulfiya]

This is the final discussion thread for the novel By Gaslight that the group has been reading for the last three months.

1. The art heist turned into the family history and the exploration what it is to have a family. Do you think the crime the character Foole/Shade planned justifies the creation of this novel?

2. Why is the end so inconclusive? Do you "dig" the end? Is the book about transience and dashed hopes or about the sole obsessive goal to find Shade?

3. Do you remember when we had early discussions about the nature of last names in this novel? Were our predictions accurate? Were the names appropriate for characters?

4. I think we all agree that the novel is very atmospheric, and it also takes place on the two sides of the pond and also in some other British colonies. Which geographical part and historical description do you find the most compelling?

5. I find this novel a literary tribute to many authors who were mentioned directly and indirectly in this novel. Did you find the literary game enjoyable? How much of this game was intentional and how much was just the recreation of the period?

6. Did you enjoy the novel in general? Why /Why not?