Many of the characters in this novel work in the music industry. How is music important in their stories? Which characters are musicians? Listeners? How is it a form of communication? Why did Egan choose to use music as part of this novel’s varying settings? How does it connect to the theme of Time, Identity, and/or Meaning?

Teaching Suggestion: An interesting aspect of this novel is the level to which the music matters. It’s everywhere, but it’s not always the most salient part of a person’s life in each chapter. Encourage students to think about music as a setting while also considering the role it plays in constructing Time, Identity, and Meaning as themes.