Held

In Held, more than one character cites the “absence” of something as proof of its existence, rather than evidence against it. Cite at least two examples of this paradox, comparing and contrasting the reasoning of the characters involved.

The three “spirit photos” that John takes are never fully explained, and they remain one of the novel’s many mysteries. What clues does the text provide to indicate that Robert Stanley, John’s photography assistant, has faked the photographs? Conversely, are there hints that the photos might be genuine?

Helena’s close friend, Ruth, is named for a figure from the Bible who crossed the River Jordan to begin a new life. How does Michaels use rivers and other boundaries as symbols of change or transition in the lives of the characters? Be sure to include at least four specific examples from the novel in your response.

When John is pressured to conceal veterans’ injuries in his photo portraits, he feels that he has betrayed his calling, and this thought worsens his depression. How does John’s internal conflict find an echo in the frustration of his granddaughter, Mara, when she is not serving abroad?

Both Helena and Lia have chance encounters with artists—a painter and a photographer, respectively—after losing their husbands at a relatively young age. Compare and contrast these two men and analyze their brief relationships with Helena and Lia. How do these men and their professions change the women’s lives? How do Helena and Lia use these experiences to overcome The Challenges of Coping With Loss?

In the passage featuring Paavo and Sofia, how does music serve as a metaphor for the spirit or for the ghosts that recur in other parts of the novel?

Despite Paavo’s characterization of science as the enemy of faith, are there instances in which science and technological advances reinforce the characters’ faith in the soul or in the paranormal?

While contemplating the stars, Hertha thinks of the priests of Babylon, who studied the heavens as part of their devotions and made important astronomical discoveries as a result. Within the context of the novel, what revelations or rescues come by way of unexpected or even fraudulent paths? Are these revelations more or less authentic than those that arrive by more straightforward means?