READERS GUIDE

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. Cross opens with a quote from a work by Manuel Rivas. After finishing the novel, why do you think that Austin Duffy chose Rivas’ quote as an introductory excerpt? What can it tell us about the themes of Cross?

2. There are little to no quotation marks or symbols used to represent dialogue throughout the text. What do you think is the reasoning for this choice? How does it add to the story? Explain?

3. Who do you think the narrator of Cross is? Are they an outsider, a supporter of people like Handy, or just a bystander?

4. The presence of a flamingo in Cross is seen as a “miracle” and “stunning sight.” What do you think the flamingo is supposed to represent, if anything, especially given its demise?

5. Cross deals heavily with themes of guilt and innocence. Would you consider these concepts to be opposites, or is there overlap between them? Are there any characters who are simultaneously guilty and innocent in the town of Cross?

6. The apparent death of the Widow Donnelly is a turning point in Duffy’s novel. Who do you think is in “control” during the sequence of events? Is her death no longer interesting for Handy and his gang if she doesn’t put up a fight?

7. Nailer and Francie are from the same generation of men in Cross and are also both in the IRA. Despite their similarities, they react differently to the expectations of the town and the people closest to them. Why do you think that is?

8. Another theme of Cross is that of political divide, especially when it comes to Francie and M.O.C. Do you think that M.O.C. is an evil character, or is he just doing his job as a politician? How do you think you would handle managing a town like Cross?

9. There is a lot of speculation throughout the novel as to whether or not Handy is a “tout.” Do you think this is true? Explain.

10. What are your thoughts on the ending of Cross? Is it what you expected? Explain