The novel posits Avey’s sense of African identity as essential, whereas her American identity is merely a social construct. How can we, almost 40 years later, respond to this construction as productive or problematic? Why do you think the author chose to convey this message?

In what ways does Marshall use Avey’s body to represent cultural expression or memory? What does this mean for the overall message of the text?

The novel often moves back and forth through time to convey the past’s influence upon the present. Why is a novel an apt vehicle to explore this theme? What limits does the form impose upon exploring past events?