Questions for Discussion

1. The author has said that the inspiration for this novel came from life experiences, first from watching the effect the death of his sister had on his parents and then from realizing the responsibilities inherent in parenthood once he became a father himself. In telling the story of Benjamin and Trev, has the author imbued the novel with a sense of true reality, or do you see it as a distortion of reality? What in the novel feels most “real” to you, and what elements do you think the author used to lighten the burden of reality?

2. How do you feel about Evison’s use of humor—which ranges from simple jokes to slapstick to absurdity—in telling what is, at heart, a tragic story? Do you think the novel would have been as effective without the humor?

3. Clearly the character Benjamin Benjamin is a man in crisis, and the author has stated that a major theme in the novel is “masculinity in crisis.” Discuss the larger meaning of “masculinity in crisis” as it refers to men in today’s society and specifically as it applies to the characters in this book.

4. Critics and readers have alluded to the spiritual aspects of the novel, yet there is nothing overtly “religious” contained in the story. Do you feel that the novel is spiritual, and if so, what is its message?

5. How do you feel about the portrayal of Trev in the novel? Often the popular media portray people with disabilities as noble sufferers or as avatars for particular disorders or disabilities. Has the author succeeded in breaking this stereotype with Trev, turning him into a vibrant, real character? How do you view Trev’s future at the conclusion of the novel?

6. As a caregiver, Benjamin begins as a novice but gains assurance along the way. Still, there are places in the story where he perhaps oversteps the boundaries of what would be considered traditional caregiving. Do you think this is what the author intended by inserting the word revised in the title of the novel? Do you feel that Ben was a good caregiver? If so, why?

7. Three penitent fathers—Ben, Bob, and Cash—embark on quests to seek forgiveness for the real and imagined ways they have failed their children. Do you think they achieve actual forgiveness in the course of the novel? Do they deserve forgiveness?

8. Binding relationships are forged with a bond of trust. How do you view Ben’s relationships with the various people in his life, including his wife, Janet, as well as the various people he meets on the road trip? Do you feel he earned their trust? If so, did he deserve it?

9. Benjamin was a stay-at-home parent. How does he talk about parenting, and do you feel that he was genuinely a successful parent? How does Benjamin view himself in the wake of his losses in life? What do you think his life will be like going forward?

10. Some have described the story as a “buddy” novel, while others consider it a “road” novel. Both are tropes that have been used successfully in many books and films. Can you think of good comparisons to this novel—in either category? Do you feel that in the course of the story these two tropes blend well together?

11. Had Trev’s mother not allowed Ben to take her son on the road trip, what do you imagine would have been the trajectory of the novel? Do you feel that perhaps the van and their journey together was the only possible outcome?

12. All through the story, Trev conveys his desire to be able to enjoy the simple, commonplace things that others take for granted, such as a normal man’s ability to pee standing up. So when Dot joins Ben and Trev on their journey, and Trev senses a mutual attraction between himself and the girl, he gets a hint of what “normal” might feel like. How do you think this awareness will change Trev’s outlook on his future?

13. At the end of the novel, Ben’s wife says to him, “We’re way past the if stage here—past the why stage, and the how stage. We’re in the is stage, Ben. Best that we both look straight ahead for a while” (page 274). Do you view this statement as an optimistic outlook on their separate futures, or do you feel that is the author’s way of circling back to the kind of realism with which he began the novel? Would you have given the story a different ending?