Cahokia Jazz Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Mobilian Jargon and our BookBrowse Review of Cahokia Jazz.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. The novel begins by quoting a fictionalized Better Business Bureau guide to the city of Cahokia about the terms that denote the three major groups in its population: the takouma, the taklousa, and the takata. How does this immerse us in the world within Cahokia Jazz, and how does it differ from our world? What is the significance of different racial and ethnic titles in this world compared to ours?
2. Examine cultural identity and cultural mixture in the novel. How does Barrow handle this and how does the world perceive him? What world events caused this city to form? How is this true also to many people's experiences in our world?
3. When Barrow and Drummond investigate the murder victim on the skyscraper, we learn a bit about the language that illustrates how our characters navigate their world. How does the Anopa language shape the novel, and what are some of the most interesting vernacular moments in this story?

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