2. At the beginning of the book, Mel describes his writing as a "series of jerky stills, courtesy of my renegade mind." How would you describe the symptoms of bipolar disorder based on Mel's account of his life and inner world? How is his mental state occasionally revealed in the way in which he expresses himself?
3. What role does the idea of home play in Swing Low? Consider, for instance, Mel's recurring dream, his feelings toward his pink house, his memories from childhood and his description of depression as "not feeling at home in this world."
4. What is the author's role in the book outside of the brief prologue and epilogue? How would you characterize the relationship between Miriam and her father based on Mel's account?
5. For those who have read A Complicated Kindness, what similarities and differences do you see between Mel and Ray? Elvira and Trudie? Steinbach and East Village?
6. What is the relationship between loss and knowledge in both Swing Low and A Complicated Kindness? Discuss the ways in which Mel Toews and Nomi Nickel value words. How do they use humour?
7. What significance do flowers, sunshine and travel have in the book? How does Mel occasionally move toward freedom? How does he resist it? Discuss the moments in which Elvira inspires him with her courage and high spirits.
Page 1 of 2 – Discover the last of our thought-provoking questions for your book club on page 2.
