The Dead Romantics

What impact did Florence’s childhood have on her, and how did growing up in a funeral home shape her attitude toward death? You may wish to explore the ways in which the novel makes light of death or morbidity (for instance, in the chapter titles) and how that interacts with the larger theme of The Impact of Death, Loss, and Grief.

How does Florence coming to terms with the death of her father teach her about love? How does the novel balance its themes of love and death? Use evidence from the text for support.

How do the tropes and patterns of romance—the meet-cute, the grand gesture, and the reconciliation scene—play out in Florence’s romance with Ben? How does their romance follow conventional patterns of contemporary romance? How does it differ?