Snapper (25 page)
Authors: Brian Kimberling
Tags: #Literary, #Humorous, #Short Stories (Single Author), #Fiction, #Coming of Age, #Cultural Heritage
I reached 45 and tried the side of the road. Not one vehicle slowed down. I began to walk down the yellow line in the middle of the road, toward 37 and away from the car. At least I provoked some angry horns and mild swerves. I spread out my arms to show I was asking for help, not wandering dementedly alone. I nearly lost them to the wing mirrors of coinciding eighteen-wheelers.
I reached the intersection of 45 and 37, and I stood beneath the traffic light, arms outstretched. Every oncoming headlight seemed to me a feeble reflection of the sun shafts piercing the canopy that afternoon, and the alternating red and green and gold of the stoplight bathed the pavement in a pale electric echo of the forest floor.
For three hours I stood there, begging for help, and not one person stopped.
Oh, people.
My people.
Many thanks to early readers Andreea Petre-Goncalves, Shefali Malhoutra, and Joanne Dexter; also to agents Tim Glister and Will Francis; editors Tim O’Connell and Mary-Anne Harrington; publicist Josefine Kals; and, in particular, to Tessa Hadley, who suggested writing about Indiana in the first place.
Brian Kimberling grew up in southern Indiana and spent two years working as a professional birdwatcher before living in the Czech Republic, Turkey, Mexico, and now England. He received an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa University in 2010.
Brian Kimberling’s SNAPPER
About the Guide:
The questions contained in this guide are designed to enhance your reading group’s discussion of Snapper. Explore debut author Brian Kimberling’s series of vignettes told about birding, Hoosiers, and love.
1. The book opens with “I got my job by accident.” How does this set the tone of the book? Does it describe the path of Nathan’s life? How does this idea apply to the secondary characters in the book?
2.
Snapper
revolves around birdwatching. What part do animals play in the book? How do animals help to move the story and define the characters? In what way are they characters themselves?
3. Several of the stories feature Lola. Is Nathan’s infatuation with Lola affected by her unavailability? Does Nathan love Lola? How do Nathan’s other relationships compare to his with Lola?
4. How does Nathan treat his relationships? Does he have trouble committing to anything? To anyone? Is he better on his own or with someone?
5. Does the book portray men and women with mutual respect? Does one gender have more control or power than the other or are they equal?
6. Kimberling references Peter Taylor, a loyal Tennessee native, and Nathan is clearly from Indiana. How much are the main characters defined by their home states? If Dart and Loretta represent Texas, then how do they differ from the characters from Indiana? Is it significant that Nathan’s mother is from Texas and his father is from Indiana?
7. The author also references to Katherine Anne Porter, whose writing deals with topics like justice, betrayal, and the unforgiving nature of humans. How are these topics handled in the story?
8. Uncle Dart squares off with the Klan yet displays his own prejudices. Is this solely to bother Nathan? At what point is a joke to be taken seriously? Or is it simply wrong to joke about certain topics? Where do you believe the boundaries are?
9. Nathan claims to “wax wroth with Darcy” yet seldom speaks with anger or indignity. Does he believe he has stronger convictions than he shows? Does he take an active or passive approach? How does his taste in literature match his ideals and represent his values?
10. This book deals with tolerance on many different levels and on many topics. How much can be overlooked? Lola does not hide the fact that she has multiple lovers. How forgiving are we due to love, or lust? Dart and Loretta return to Texas. How much can we be expected to accept from our family?
11. Nathan parts ways with John at the end of chapter IV. Why do long friendships end or fail to be rekindled? Darren is obviously not an ideal roommate, but is allowed to stay until he hurts Nathan. When does the line get crossed with friends?
12. What can be taken from Nathan’s encounter with Maud and Ernie? Why were they offended? They welcome all to their diner. Are they choosing to turn a blind eye unless forced to do otherwise?
13. Nathan has encounters with veterans. Once in the woods, and another in the vet center. Compare the two encounters with each other and with Nathan`s experience in Outward Bound. How do these three experiences complement each other? How do they differ?
14. Have you tried, à la Ernest Hemingway, to write a story in six words? How long does a story need to be? Is this a story collection or a novel? What is the difference? How important is a plotline in telling a story? Is it more satisfying to have one or more enjoyable to be free of the bounds of the structure?
15. Lola has clearly changed in Nathan’s eyes later in the story. How has Lola changed? How has Nathan changed? Do they have the same values now as in their youth?
16. Nathan compares headlights and traffic lights to his patch of woods. He laments, “Oh, people. My people” (
this page
). Would Nathan and Shane as young men stop to pick up an older Nathan waving his arms in the middle of the road?
17. How do these stories follow the tradition of American folk tales? How do they not?
18. The last chapter is titled “Elegy.” To whom or what does this refer?
19. Why is the book entitled
Snapper
?
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