At one point, Charlie reflects that being a successful con artist as a woman is a delicate balance. What role do gender dynamics play in the novel?

Consider the way parent-child relationships are portrayed in the novel: Edmund and Lionel Salt, Charlie and her mother, Charlie and Rand. Is there a common thread across these relationships? What do they communicate about the wider social structure?

Charlie’s appearance, particularly her curves and her tattoos, is often described. Is Charlie defined by the way she looks? How does she use her looks to define herself?