The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Compare and contrast Freddie and Pim. How do these two characters mirror each other, and what do their similarities and differences contribute to the themes of the novel?

Analyze the character of Laura Iven. Why do the other characters so often look to her for support and stability, and is this faith warranted? Is Laura the hero of the story? Explain using examples from the text.

Discuss the significance of the séance that occurs in Chapter 2. How does it lay the groundwork for the novel’s depiction of ghosts?

In the Author’s Note, Katherine Arden asks, “What would a devil of the old world do if he found himself in the hell of a new one? […] What use would the lover and exploiter of mortal flaws have for a place that torments without accounting for vice or virtue?” (321-22). In what ways does the text answer this question, and how does it relate to the themes of the novel?

One of Arden’s goals is to inspire more interest in World War I. How does the novel depict WWI? What techniques does Arden use to bring the era to life?

Consider the climactic sequence in which Freddie and Laura try various doors in Faland’s realm. How does this imagery support the novel’s treatment of The Impact of Grief and Trauma?

How do the major themes relate to and influence each other? How does the experience of war give rise to issues of grief and trauma? How does it give rise to resilience?

Faland argues that it is better to succumb to oblivion rather than face the destruction of war. What is the text’s response to this argument?