The Deadwood Beetle Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

1. Loss ripples through this novel. How, in the end, does loss create its opposite?
   
2. History has a force all its own in this novel. Would you say Tristan has free will or is he trapped by forces beyond his control?
   
3. In this novel, religion and religious beliefs often have negative associations. Is religion or religious belief also a positive thing? Is the author asking where redemption and forgiveness come from?
   

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