Tue, 10 Mar 2026 23:01:38 -0700EditMySiteThu, 20 Sep 2012 16:11:15 GMThttps://www.conundrumbooksandmusic.com/book-buzz-blog/worth-more-dead-points-to-ponderdiscussion-questions-and-the-psychology-behind-the-storyWorth More Dead Points to Ponder/Discussion Questions
 

This novel begins with a scene that actually takes place later in the story (six months from now). It is the climax, or the catastrophic event that results from the dysfunctional relationships between tragically flawed characters.

Did you form an opinion early on, within the first fifty pages or so, as to just who it was up at the falls that day?

Did that opinion change as the story progressed?

Were you surprised when you found out who it actually was?

What was it about Janice’s personality that drove her to make the trip that day to the falls to confront Billy?

Why do you think that Billy seduced Ginny when she was just an adolescent, as well as being his sister-in-law? What do you suppose was going wrong in Billy and Amy’s marriage at that point?

Did you feel that Billy got what he deserved?

 
Human beings are a very complicated and emotionally fragile species. Our perceptions of ourselves have a great bearing on how we present who we are, or rather, how we would like for other people to see us.

The relationships in our lives, whether due to “luck of the draw” such as our families or co-workers, or by “choice” like our marriages or friendships, have a huge impact on our behavior. There is a continuous interchange of “feelings” based on continuous “encounters”. Not only can we not control how somebody treats us, but we have little control over how they perceive us. It is often the misinterpretation that frequently occurs that gets us into trouble.

Do you think that we, in our human condition, manipulate ourselves and what others see in order to create an illusion of what we wish we were?

If so, why would that be necessary? Why would someone feel the need to do this?

Do you think that people perceive you as you really are?

Do you think that people sometimes have negative perceptions of who you are, which are not true?

And if so, how could that happen?

 Have you ever formed an opinion about somebody simply based on their superficial presentation, either good or bad? Have you ever been proven wrong after you’ve had a chance to get to know that person?

 Do you think that Ginny’s perception of Amy as “superior than thou”, and Cassie’s thoughts and statement directed at Amy, “You always think you’re better than everyone else!” is accurate?

Why do you think that Amy is that way, or comes across as being that way?

Do you think that these perceptions contribute to Ginny and Cassie’s ability to betray Amy with relatively little remorse?

 Both Ginny and Cassie experience drastic changes in how they “feel” based on their “encounters”. Cassie in particular “hates” Ginny one moment, then “loves” her the very next when even an ounce of kindness is extended by her older sister. Why do you suppose this happens?

Ginny seems to very purposefully “misinterpret” both Dr. Gilmore’s behavior and his words. Her perception of their “relationship” is fairly disturbing.

What is it about her personality that makes her do this?

Do you think she can help it?

Is there a correlation between the way that Ginny sees her “relationship” with Dr. Gilmore and her relationship with Billy?

Was there anything that Dr. Gilmore did to encourage it?

What could he have done differently, if anything, in the situation that might have helped?

 
  As Harvey Fierstein famously said, “I just want to be loved, is that so wrong?” It seems that “being loved” is Cassie’s driving force.

 
Cassie is perceived as an oddity. It is almost as if people don’t give her credit for being “human” and actually having “feelings”.  Do you think that Cassie’s outward appearance contributes to this?

 If so, why?

 Do you think that being “prejudiced” against a certain group of people is similar in this way; that when somebody is prejudiced they are incapable of seeing that group of people as human beings with the very same thoughts and feelings that they have?

Can you think of any historical event where this type of prejudice took place?

Do you believe that fear and ignorance factored into this event in some way?

Do you think that an inability to see a group as simply human beings contributes to prejudices, or do you think that this incapability is a defense mechanism that allows them to be prejudiced without guilt?

 Is Cassie aware that others perceive her as an oddity?

If so, why does she purposefully create the unattractive image that she does?

Why would Cassie allow such a degrading sexual encounter as that of her and Billy, and even view it as “Billy seeking comfort in her arms”?

How could she think she’s “in love” with someone who treats her this way?

 Do you think that Cassie’s living arrangement with her mom causes her to feel “guilt”, or do you think that her sense of entitlement allows her to do this “guilt-free”?

Do Ginny and Amy resent Cassie for this?

Did you find it ironic that all three of them ended up back in their childhood home?

 

 This story is one of personality disorders in action. Following the brief descriptions of some of these disorders, think about which character exemplifies each. Consider the “Nature vs. Nurture” arguments you think about this.

Antisocial Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized as someone who is incapable of meaningful relationships. They exhibit impulsive or aggressive behavior, and use “charm” to manipulate people or to get out of trouble. They lack remorse for any wrongs they have done, even when it has caused significant harm to others. They are deceitful, and often lie or cheat. They also tend to blame everyone but themselves for their “lot in life”. The extreme of this disorder is known as Sociopath.

Which character best fits this type of personality disorder?

Do you think that it is genetic, or a learned behavior in this case?

For this person, who got the “blame” for their lot in life?

Did that person’s background make you feel sorry for them at all?

Do you think that there was anything that could’ve been done to have changed that person’s behavior?

 
Borderline Personality Disorder: This disorder causes one to have a very low self-esteem, bordering on self-hatred. A person suffering from this disorder is impulsive, and engages in risky behaviors, like drugs, alcohol, and illicit sex. Their behavior is often destructive, to themselves and others. They sometimes inflict self-harm, or have suicide ideation. They have a very difficult time controlling their emotions, and are often “all over the map” with them, vacillating between depression and extreme anxiety.

Is there any one particular character who exemplifies this disorder the best?

For this person, do you believe it to be genetic or a learned behavior?

Was there any event in this person’s life that helped to create this problematic personality?

Did you feel any sympathy for this character?

If so, when and why?

 

 Narcissistic Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized as someone who has an inflated sense of self, feeling that they are superior to others. They are the “talkers” who monopolize conversations, and do whatever it takes to be the center of attention. They have a warped sense of entitlement due to their feelings of self-importance. What is very interesting about this disorder is that they will exaggerate their talents and accomplishments, often fantasizing about how attractive or successful they are, but at the same time, they are very insecure and have a fragile self-esteem. They do not take criticism of any kind well. They get their “feelings hurt” very easily, and crave constant praise or adoration. Although they believe that others are jealous of them, they in turn tend to have feelings of jealousy toward others. They are unable to recognize other people’s emotions or feelings, and often convince themselves that those emotions and feelings are what they want them to be.

Who best exemplifies this disorder?

Again, do you feel that it is genetic, or a learned type of behavior?

Does this person inspire feelings of sympathy?

Is this person likable in any way?

 

Schizoid Personality Disorder: This disorder is characterized by odd or peculiar thinking and behavior. These people often dress or appear eccentric. They are incapable of picking up on social cues, and tend to avoid social situations. Their emotional responses are often inappropriate. They tend to have what is known as “magical thinking” believing that with their thoughts they can influence or even control other people or situations.

Who would you say fits into this category?

Do you think it is genetic or a learned behavior?

Do you think that doing drugs had anything to do with why this person is this way?

Did you feel sympathy for this character?

 

 Did you have a difficult time choosing only one of the characters for each of these disorders?

Do you think that each of the characters has a small dose of every one of these disorders?

 Out of all the disorders listed, which do you think is the most dangerous?

Why?

 Did Janice fit into any of these categories?

Did you find her to be a “control freak”?

Out of her three daughters, who was most like her?

Why do you suppose that is?

 Although the deadly combination of their disorders, and the series of unfortunate events lead to their ultimate demises, who, out of the five main characters (Billy, Ginny, Amy, Cassie and Janice) had the biggest influence on the events that occur in this story?

 Can a person justifiably “blame” heredity (nature) for their bad behavior?

 Can a person justifiably “blame” upbringing or life events (nurture) for their bad behavior?

 Do you think that these things should be considered even when someone commits a heinous crime?

 

Following are a list of several general questions about the story for discussion:

Did you think that Ginny knew what she was doing at fifteen years of age during her initial sexual encounter with Billy?

Do you think that this encounter helped to create the person Ginny became?

Do you think she would have been an entirely different person had this not happened to her?

 Do you believe that Ginny loved Billy?

Was she capable of feeling love for others?

 
In addition to personality disorders and unfortunate events, drugs play a large part in what influence those events. Do you think that drug use was the cause of many of the problems, or a result from the existing problems?

 
After Amy’s outburst telling Janet, “I will not be like you!” did you find it ironic that Amy ended up the way she did, or would you have expected that?

 
Do you think that negative traits are easy to identify in (or attribute to) others when we, ourselves, possess those same traits?

 
Why do you suppose that Amy believes so strongly in things like “fate and destiny”? Does this complement her need for control in any way? In other words, why would someone who is a control freak believe in fate or destiny, which is totally out of our control.

 
“Hair” is a recurring theme in this story. Amy seems obsessed with hair for some reason. She admires Billy’s thick, shiny and disheveled head of hair when they first meet, and then she stares angrily at his disheveled mess of hair much later in their marriage, and then finally focuses on his     “still alive” hair as his dead body lies on a steel gurney. What do you suppose the significance of this is?

Does Amy have any meaningful relationships (other than her children)?

How does a “bad hair day” affect some people?

 At what point does Amy seem to realize her part in the destruction of her marriage?

Do you think that this marriage was doomed to fail?

Why is it that Amy “feels nothing”, or doesn’t quite know how to even respond, when she is told of Billy’s death?

At what point is she finally able to cry?

Why do you think Amy was attracted to Billy in the first place?

 And why do you think that Billy was attracted to Amy in the first place?

 What is the significance of both Billy and Amy’s separate thoughts that night in the ballroom, when Billy wanted Amy to “wrap him up in her arms” and Amy wanted to “wrap him up in her arms”. What does this tell you about these two characters and their needs?

 Do you think that Billy was capable of feeling love for others?

 Do you think that if Billy had been raised in better circumstances, he wouldn’t have turned out the way he did?

 Was there anything you knew of Billy’s father or mother that would indicate a genetic predisposition to a personality disorder?

 
Why do you think that Billy was so obsessed with porn? Do you think he was capable of separating fantasy from reality? Did this obsession contribute to his critical feelings toward his wife, and women in general? Do you think that this created in him a “love” for women?

 
After Ginny accidentally “kills” Mr. Fields, she is incapable of feeling remorse for her actions. Why do you suppose that is?

At what point in the story does Ginny show any remorse for her behavior?

Did this give you hope for her future as a human being?

 What was the significance of the game the three sisters played at the end of the story?

And the significance of who it was that won the game? And that of her drawing the "two" card?

 What were the two end results of all of the events that finally allowed the sisters to get along with each other, and begin to work toward some semblance of a family?

 
Did you feel hopeful at the end of the story that these three sisters would go on to live happy lives?

 

Would you like a sequel to find out?

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