THE BOOK OF OTTO AND LIAM
Liam is the boy, lying in the hospital, in grave condition, a bullet lodged in his head. Otto is his father, a commercial artist whose marriage has collapsed in the wake of the disaster. Paul Griner’s brave novel taps directly into the vein of a uniquely American tragedy: the school shooting. We know these grotesque and sorrowful events too well. Thankfully, the characters in this drama are finely drawn human beings—those who gain our empathy, those who commit the unspeakable acts, and those conspiracy fanatics who launch a concerted campaign to convince the world that the shooting was a hoax.
Liam is the boy, lying in the hospital, in grave condition, a bullet lodged in his head. Otto is his father, a commercial artist whose marriage has collapsed in the wake of the disaster. Paul Griner’s brave novel taps directly into the vein of a uniquely American tragedy: the school shooting. We know these grotesque and sorrowful events too well. Thankfully, the characters in this drama are finely drawn human beings—those who gain our empathy, those who commit the unspeakable acts, and those conspiracy fanatics who launch a concerted campaign to convince the world that the shooting was a hoax. The Book of Otto and Liam is a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat read and, at the same time, it is a meditation on the forms evil can take, from the irredeemable act of the shooter himself, to the anger and devastation it causes in the victims’ families. Griner has managed to make an amazing, incredibly powerful book, one that is like no other.
- Sarabande Books
- Paperback
- April 2021
- 352 Pages
- 9781946448767
Buy the Book
$16.95
About Paul Griner
Paul Griner is the author of the novels Collectors, The German Woman, and Second Life, and the story collections Follow Me (a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers choice) and Hurry Please I Want to Know (winner of the Kentucky Literary Award). He teaches writing and literature at the University of Louisville.
Praise
“Dazzling.” —Man Booker Prize winner George Saunders
“A powerful excavation into the darkest recesses of grief. . . Unabashedly polemical, angry, and heartbreaking.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“An entirely original portrait of grief, loss, and finding a new way forward in the aftermath of an all too-familiar tragedy.” —Booklist, starred review
“A serious and urgent book…. [it] is a portrait of us in our present moment, battered by a reckless and deceitful government, battling our own inurement to daily horrors, and doing our best to get on with the business of living.” —The Rumpus
Discussion Questions
1. What makes Otto such a compelling protagonist? What are his most appealing qualities? His faults? At what crucial points in the novel does he demonstrate courage, compassion, intelligence, and/or a willingness to sacrifice himself?
2. What might Otto’s obsession with Kate—from systematically searching websites for her recent videos, to trying to discover her real identity and where she lives and works—tell us about his character and state of mind? Do you think that this search is a noble struggle or a selfish one? Is justice ultimately served?
3. What do May’s and Otto’s individual reactions to the catastrophic events of a school shooting suggest about the nation’s grief over these events? Why do you think the author chose to depict their failing marriage against the backdrop of some of the most painful moments in recent American history?
4. The Book of Otto and Liam was inspired in part by contemporary events, including numerous school shootings and the rise of “hoaxers,” those who, like Alex Jones, claim that the school shootings of the last two decades never happened. How does the book capture recent transformations in American culture?
5. Most of the chapters are very short, some only a few lines. Some are in first person, some third, some are statistics, notes from hoaxers, texts, lists, poems, letters, maps, ads or illustrations, and the story is not told in a linear fashion. Why do you think the writer structured the book the way he did? Why did he include so many different types of narrative?
6. Would you say that May and Otto’s qualities—intelligence, caring for others, diligence—will propel them beyond grief and a desire for revenge? Will May and Otto have a shared future?
7. One of the most complex relationships in the book is between Otto and Lamont. How would you characterize it? As Lamont seems to sink further into darkness, Otto appears to reach for a bit of light. Does he sacrifice Lamont to do so? Does he make the right choice at the end by giving Lamont Dexter Fenchwood’s name?