Faces in the Fire

Reading Guides

Reading Group Guide

1. Why do you think the book is called Faces in the Fire? What are the "faces" the title references? What are the "fires"?
   
2. Faces in the Fire is told through a series of seemingly disjointed scenes that take place out of order. Why do you think the author chose this narrative technique? Did it add anything to the stories for you? Did it detract from the stories?
   
3. Scientists have described the human brain's tendency to identify patterns in seemingly unrelated data as "patternicity." In other words, we see faces in clouds, identify coded messages in long texts, and detect conspiracies tying together coincidences. Each of the main characters in Faces in the Fire exhibits patternicity by reading meaning into the number 1595544534--and yet, their paths are changed by their unique interpretations. Do you think their paths would have led to the same place if they hadn't come into contact with the numbers? Why or why not? Are there seemingly random events that have changed the course of your own life?
   
4. In the first story, Kurt seems haunted by anguished voices trapped inside articles of clothing. Despite this, Kurt actually seeks out new articles of clothing, searching for more voices. Why do you think Kurt seems paradoxically driven to look for something that he wants to hide from himself?
   
5. Corrine, the main character in the second story, says she's proud to be a "bottom feeder." Judging by her behavior, would you agree that she's comfortable thinking of herself as a bottom feeder?
   
6. In the third story, when Grace's tattoos begin to offer her glimpses into the lives of her clients, she doesn't seem terrified; instead, she seems to gain a sense of purpose, and even begins to kick her heroin habit. Why do you think this is? What does it say about Grace as a character?
   
7. Stan, the main character in the final story, is fixated on the image of a catfish from his childhood. What do you think the catfish represents for him?
   
8. How are the main characters in each of the stories alike? How are they different? Do they change or grow as they interact with each other?
   
9. Do you think the paths of these characters may cross again at some point in the future? Why or why not?
   
10. If you asked each of the main characters at the beginning of their stories what they most want in life, what would their answers be? Would their answers be different at the end of their stories?