The Book of Two Ways

Analyze Picoult’s use of “sliding door” narrative conventions in the novel. How does she both use and subvert these conventions to deepen the meaning of the text?

Dawn tells the reader: “The Ancient Egyptians believed that when a god came in its true form, there was an irresistible aroma” (326). How does scent play a role in the text, and what did Picoult hope to convey with this imagery?

Win asks Dawn: “Did you know that the origin of art is a love story?” (196). Discuss Win’s perspective on art, which she shares with Dawn. Why did Picoult include these ideas, and how do they contribute to the larger meaning of the novel?

Trace Dawn’s evolution into her vocation as a death doula. Why did Picoult choose this profession for Dawn? What part does it play in Dawn’s character development?

Analyze Picoult’s use of maps throughout the novel. What do the maps mean in the context of the larger story, and how do these references add another layer of meaning to the novel?

Discuss the theme of Evolving Parenthood in The Book of Two Ways. How does Picoult explore the topic through the parenting styles of characters? How do the characters parent differently, and what does the novel suggest about ideal modes of parenting? Provide examples from the text to support your argument.

Discuss Picoult’s extensive use of Egyptology in the novel. What was Picoult’s strategy here? How does the information offered deepen the meaning of the text?

Analyze Picoult’s use of graphics in the text to reproduce illustrations of tomb iconography. How does her use of graphic representations deepen the reader’s understanding of the text?