Deep Cuts - Discussion Questions

[Ariana]

1. What drives Percy’s love for music? What does music give her? What
does it give you?

2. Why do you think Joe doesn’t welcome an intimate relationship with
Percy early on in the novel? What did you think of their “promise?”

3. Discuss the friendship triangle between Percy, Joe, and Zoe. What does
each character get out of it?

4. How would you describe Percy’s particular talent? What about your
own talent(s)—do you have any unique skills that may be hard to
identify or categorize? Have you ever wished for a different talent, and
why do you think that is?

5. Percy has her own metrics for judging a great song. “How deep does it
cut? How close to the bone? How long do you feel it?” What do you
think of these metrics, relative to the way Percy’s classmates view
music? What are some songs that are “deep cuts” in your own life?

6. Percy’s mom tells her that Percy “didn’t get the music gene” and that it
was a “relief” to her. What does she mean by that? In what ways does
Percy’s mom shape her view of the world and herself?

7. Why do you think Percy turns to Zoe to tell her what to do?

8. Several people in her life, including Raj and Zoe, tell Percy that she’s
avoiding something with her actions. What is she avoiding? Why?

9. How do the men in Deep Cuts view music made by men versus music
made by women? Why doesn’t Joe initially give Percy her due as an
artist? In what ways do you see this reflected in today’s music
opinions?

10. How are the times (2000–2008) and the places (Berkeley, New York,
San Francisco, etc.) integral to the story?

11. How does each character in the novel find their own “voice?” How do
they help each other to do so?

12. Throughout the novel, Percy struggles with an insecurity that might be
called “imposter syndrome” today. In her moments of triumph, what
factors, both internal and external, help her push past this insecurity?

13. What changes within Percy once she hears the “Bay Window” song
performed live?

14. What did you think of Joe’s reaction to Percy working on a song with
his former bandmate?

15. How did the ending make you feel? What might the future look like for
Percy and Joe?