Adelaide: A Novel

How does Adelaide’s perception of Rory change over the course of the novel? How does she see Rory when they first meet, compared to her perception of him during, shortly after, and years after their relationship? To what do you attribute this changing perception?

In what ways is Adelaide and Rory’s relationship imbalanced? How do Adelaide and Rory see one another? How do they relate to each other when they are both together and apart? Who has more power, and why? How and why might the characters cede control to one another? Consider the ways in which these imbalances complicate their dynamic.

In what ways do Adelaide’s friendships influence her self-regard? What role do characters including Eloise, Madison, and Celeste play in Adelaide’s life, and how does she relate to them? What does Wheeler suggest about female friendship through these characters and relationships?

How does Adelaide cope with her mental health conditions throughout the majority of the novel? Why does she at times avoid Confronting Mental Health Conditions? What events and conflicts challenge her to change her attitude toward her mental health?

Compare and contrast how Rory and Adelaide perceive Nathalie. What role does Nathalie play in Rory’s and Adelaide’s individual storylines? How does each respond to her death, and why? What changes does she instigate in the narrative? How and why?

How do Adelaide’s romantic ideals complicate her understanding of her relationship with Rory? How does she regard her friends’ relationships? In what ways must Adelaide reinvent her ideals after breaking up with Rory? What larger cultural commentary does Wheeler make with this dynamic?

How does Adelaide change over the course of the novel? What experiences and relationships contribute to her evolution? What experiences and relationships must she overcome?

How does the author use flashbacks and flash forwards to build tension? Discuss specific examples from the text.