The Jesus Thief Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

1. In chapter one, we see Dr. Felix Rossi torn by a very personal crisis. At this point in the book, how do you think Felix would define faith? How do you see his understanding of faith change or evolve during the story?
   


2. When we meet Maggie, we learn that she reads Vogue, that she's matched her skintone to color swatches, and we know quite a bit about her feelings for her Graham Smith hat. How did you feel about Maggie and her attention to fashion when you first met her? What did you think made her so appearance conscious, given the fact that she doesn't think she's pretty? Besides being a fashion diva, what are some of Maggie's other qualities? What details does Lankford use to clue you into Maggie's personality? Do you find Maggie endearing at the story's beginning? Why or why not? Did Sam's perspective on her (pages 45-48) add anything to your initial thoughts about Maggie? And what do you learn about her that expands or alters your opinion of her as the novel progresses?
   


3. The Jesus Thief is peppered with descriptions of sumptuous interiors. What were some of your favorite settings? How did the settings, both interior and exterior, help you to envision the events that happen in them?
   

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