Dry

Weapons, especially guns, play a significant role, and the characters often have complex feelings about their use. What controversies surround guns in the novel? How are guns a positive and/or negative force—and in whose opinion?

Each character in Dry was prepared (or not prepared) for the Tap-Out in his or her own way. Pick a character and explain how this individual was prepared (or not) for the disaster—and how the Tap-Out changed the individual.

Each character has a unique outlook on humanity and life, whether positive, negative, or changing. Explore how one character’s outlook impacts that individual’s actions and beliefs—and how it changes throughout the novel.

What role does the government and/or military play in the plot of Dry? How do people view these organizations, and how effectively do they manage the crisis?

Fire plays a key role in the later parts of the novel. Is fire a greater and/or more immediate threat than lack of water for the characters? Explain how it is (or isn’t).

Although Dry focuses on a few point-of-view characters, its many snapshots reveal how others manage the disaster. Pick a snapshot and explain how it fits into the narrative, paying close attention to themes or symbols in the snapshot.

The characters in Dry must make numerous difficult decisions. Pick a difficult or impossible decision that a character made and explain how this decision contributes to the narrative and/or characterization of this individual.

Although the novel has a core group of characters, the dynamics within this group change often. One cause of this change is romantic interest. Explain how romantic interest has a positive and/or negative role in the story.