The Bird Skinner Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

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The Bird Skinner by Alice Greenway

The Bird Skinner

by Alice Greenway
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  • First Published:
  • Jan 7, 2014, 320 pages
  • Paperback:
  • Nov 2014, 336 pages
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Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, The Solomon Islands and our BookBrowse Review of The Bird Skinner.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

  1. The anchor of The Bird Skinner is the title figure, Jim. What makes this misanthropic man an endearing character? Why do the other characters care about him?
  2. Why is Jim so resistant to Cadillac's arrival? What are his excuses? Are they understandable?
  3. Discuss how Jim has set himself apart throughout his life. In what ways has he always been an outcast and recluse, from childhood through old age?
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  1. How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
  2. What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
  3. Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?


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

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Beyond the Book:
  The Solomon Islands

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