1. You can think of Southernmost as dividing into two parts: the first part which occurs in rural Tennessee and the second which takes place in Key West. How might landscape be working on a symbolic level in the book?
2. Speaking of symbolism, why does the book start with a flood?
3. What does The Everything mean to Justin?
4. Forgiveness is a central part of this novel, for many characters. Who needs to forgive whom and why? What is House saying about how forgiveness works? What does it take to be forgiven?
5. Why do you think (spoiler alert) House has Asher and Luke end up doing the same job? What does this suggest about the job, and the two brothers?
6. House has said that Asher Sharp represents the majority of Modern Americans he knows, people who have been raised to discriminate against LGBT people but have greatly evolved over the last couple of decades to be more accepting. Asher is symbolic of the evolution that has taken place in people on this issue during our lifetimes. Would you say this is true of most people you know?
7. At the same time, readers are sometimes surprised by the level of homophobia that is on display throughout the book. Would you say the novel offers an accurate portrayal of how people react to this issue--that being a wide array of reactions, everywhere from arms-wide acceptance (Bell) to shunning (Lydia) and even violence (Asher and Luke's mother, with the pistol to Luke's head).
8. Music plays an important role in the book. Justin loves the rock band My Morning Jacket. Asher loves Patty Griffin. Bell loves Joni Mitchell. Do you find this use of musical references to be effective in the book? Why or why not?
9. Would you say the book offers complex portrayals of labelled groups that people often stereotype? In this case, particularly Christians, LGBT people, Southerners. Why or why not?
10. House has said that dogs are symbolic for the "presence of the divine" throughout the novel. Knowing this, can you see the ways that dogs have been used in this way in Southernmost?
11. Who is your favorite character? Why?
2. Speaking of symbolism, why does the book start with a flood?
3. What does The Everything mean to Justin?
4. Forgiveness is a central part of this novel, for many characters. Who needs to forgive whom and why? What is House saying about how forgiveness works? What does it take to be forgiven?
5. Why do you think (spoiler alert) House has Asher and Luke end up doing the same job? What does this suggest about the job, and the two brothers?
6. House has said that Asher Sharp represents the majority of Modern Americans he knows, people who have been raised to discriminate against LGBT people but have greatly evolved over the last couple of decades to be more accepting. Asher is symbolic of the evolution that has taken place in people on this issue during our lifetimes. Would you say this is true of most people you know?
7. At the same time, readers are sometimes surprised by the level of homophobia that is on display throughout the book. Would you say the novel offers an accurate portrayal of how people react to this issue--that being a wide array of reactions, everywhere from arms-wide acceptance (Bell) to shunning (Lydia) and even violence (Asher and Luke's mother, with the pistol to Luke's head).
8. Music plays an important role in the book. Justin loves the rock band My Morning Jacket. Asher loves Patty Griffin. Bell loves Joni Mitchell. Do you find this use of musical references to be effective in the book? Why or why not?
9. Would you say the book offers complex portrayals of labelled groups that people often stereotype? In this case, particularly Christians, LGBT people, Southerners. Why or why not?
10. House has said that dogs are symbolic for the "presence of the divine" throughout the novel. Knowing this, can you see the ways that dogs have been used in this way in Southernmost?
11. Who is your favorite character? Why?
