The Never-Open Desert Diner Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Flash Floods and our BookBrowse Review of The Never-Open Desert Diner.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

Introduction

Ben Jones lives a quiet life working as a trucker in a beautiful and desolate region of the Utah desert, that has become a haven for fugitives and others looking to hide from the world. But when he meets Claire, a mysterious woman playing a cello in an abandoned housing development, he is drawn into a love affair that has serious and life-threatening consequences, not only for both of them but for others who have made this desert their sanctuary. Their passion reignites a decades-old tragedy at a roadside cafe known by the locals as The Never-Open Desert Diner, embroiling Ben in the aftermath of a horrific crime that threatens to destroy everything that matters to him.

In this remarkable story of love and loss, Ben learns the enduring truth that some violent crimes renew themselves across generations. The Never-Open Desert Diner is a unique blend of literary mystery and noir fiction that powerfully evokes an unforgettable setting and introduces readers to a cast of characters who will linger long after the last page.


Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. What are your impressions of Ben Jones? Did you like him as a character and narrator? Was he a sympathetic character?
2. The rape of Walt's wife, Bernice, first described in Chapter 10, comes up multiple times in the novel. How do you think this traumatic event serves as a plot function? 
3. While driving in Ben's truck in Chapter 17, Josh has a very strong reaction to the cello music. Why do you think he reacted this way? Did you think he could be Claire's husband? Is there something in your life that you see or hear that causes you to have a strong immediate response? 

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