Memorial Days

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Were you familiar with Geraldine Brooks and Tony Horwitz and their work before reading the memoir? If so, how did this affect your reading experience? If not, are you curious to investigate their work? Why or why not?

2. Discuss the memoir’s alternating timelines. How did switching from 2019 to 2021 affect your understanding of Brooks’s grief journey?

3. Compare this book to other books you’ve read that explore trauma and grief, such as Grief Is for People by Sloane Crosley or All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley.

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with personal experiences.

1. Reflect on Brooks’s need for solitude to grieve. Have you ever sought solitude in a time of emotional upheaval? How does being alone help you process your feelings?

2. Is there a place that holds emotional significance to you? How do you feel when you return there?

3. Has storytelling ever helped you understand or cope with grief or other powerful emotions?