• “You have to choose between what the world expects of you and what you want for yourselves.” (p. 161) As the quote holds, is this necessary for the true self? Or by influencing our self, does society act as a source of corruption?—EA

• What does James mean when he calls truth a bandy-legged soul on page 187?—SM

• How did James’ trip to find his roots influence him as a person? (chapters 20 and 22)—CS

• What makes birds of flight so special? page 218—BF

• On page 229, what was Hudis Shilsky’s suffering for, and how can good come out of suffering?—PW

• Pg. 271: “She’s always been slightly out of control, my mother, always had the unnerving habit of taking the ship in the air to do loops and spins, then fleeing the cockpit screaming.” Does his mother react this way to her own independence and strong-will?—WF

• Was it the best idea for Ruth to, “face the ghost of her past”? (Page 272) She was living an alright life to this point. Why go back and face the past?—JC

• Why do Ruth still identify herself as a Jewish (“That’s how it’s done”....“That’s how the old Jews did it in my days too” in pg. 284) even after her involvement in Christianity (as is describe in Ch.23 and Ch.24)?—PY

• By the end of the book, has Ruth really come to terms with her past?—DM