Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for The Evening Shades by Lee Martin

1. The Evening Shades calls attention to the beauty of human connection, more specifically, the need for genuine companionship. What are some ways the author conveys this message through the complexity of the relationships within the story?
2. How do Edith Green and Henry Dees compliment one another?
3. What is the significance of the stories different perspectives? How do they impact readers' relationship with the main characters?
4. Throughout the story, the author depicts Henry Dees as an honest and vulnerable man. How does the author do this? Does Henry feel like a reliable narrator?
5. The characters within the story are haunted by their past. On page 234, Henry says, "We all think of the what ifs and the might-have-beens. They shadow us the rest of our lives." How does this concept present itself in each character's story? How does this concept relate to the historical context of the book?
6. A central theme in The Evening Shades is an individual's urge to blame. How does it interact with shame throughout the story?
7. The author forces readers to feel like outsiders looking in; the "observer" role is prevalent throughout the story. How does the author accomplish this, and why?
8. In the story, secrecy both brings characters together and tears them apart. Does this ultimately benefit them? Harm them?
9. The notion of acceptance, specifically the innate desire to feel loved, is explored throughout the text, as almost every character attempts to seek the approval of others. How is this yearning for acceptance characterized in the novel? Is acceptance something the characters should strive for?
10. Halfway through the book, Edith tells Bertie Squiggs, "Sadness isn't love." What do you think she means by this?
11. The author writes from the point of view of the two towns: Mt. Gilead and Tower Hill. Why do you think he does this? How are the towns' narration similar and different from each other?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Melville House. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.