1.) Each character’s voice attempts to offer insight into the meaning of life and death.  Does any one character do this better than the others?  Are older people necessarily smarter than younger people when it comes to the philosophy of living?

2.) Are the characters likable?  Is it important that we like them in order to enjoy and/or understand the story?  Which character did you like or at least empathize with the most?  The least?  Why?

3.) Do the narrators always tell the truth?  If not, do you think they are being dishonest on purpose?

4.) What does this story teach us about what defines friends and family?  Do the characters become friends?

5.) Knowing what you know about the characters by the end of the story, do you think these characters had a reason to live at the beginning of the book?  Do you think anything changed for them by the end?  Do they have more or less of a reason to live by the end of the book?

6.) Knowing what you know about the characters by the end of the story, do you think they would have actually jumped if they had been alone on the roof New Year’s Eve?

7.) Did the first person round-robin narrative work for this story?

8.) Does Hornby’s use of pop culture references work?  Did it make the story more interesting or accessible for you?

9.) Is it appropriate to use humor when writing about a serious and potentially upsetting subject like suicide?

10.) Did you find the book funny?  If so, did laughing ever make you feel uncomfortable?