Mystic River

Consider Jimmy, Sean, and Dave’s relationship to women. How is each man changed by the woman they marry? How do their marriages reflect or respond to their relationships to their mothers? What effect do you think these relationships have upon their decisions?

Would you describe the main characters as dynamic or static? Which characters grow by the end of the novel, and which remain the same? In what ways are they changed or the same?

Consider Jimmy’s belief that a single moment in a person’s life can have lifelong ramifications. Using the context of the novel, do you agree? Why, or why not? Do you believe Jimmy is talking about fate, or do you believe he is talking about the butterfly effect? Use evidence from the text to support either claim.

A class consciousness is revealed early on between the three boys. How do you think this affects their relationship? How is this knowledge carried into their adult lives? Explain the significance of the difference between the Point and the Flats.

What does gentrification symbolize within the text? Consider how gentrification affects the Point differently than the Flats. Why do you think Lehane chose to represent this?

Lehane is a prolific mystery writer. In some ways, though, this novel subscribes to the hard-boiled detective fiction genre. How does he balance between the two? Which, in your opinion, is more present in this text? How?

The novel makes a study of trauma and its lasting effects. It focuses primarily on childhood sexual trauma and the effects trauma has on an entire community. Describe the importance of representing this in literature. How does the text explore trauma effectively? In what ways is it unsuccessful—or even problematic?

Why do you think Lehane chose Dave as a red-herring? How was he successful in this? In what ways was he not? What about Dave makes him a compelling misdirection?