Nightmare City

READING GROUP GUIDE

1. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where nothing felt right: people close to you seemed to be missing, nothing seemed “normal”? How did you respond? What did you think was happening?

2. Tom feels like he’s won the lottery now that Marie seems to be interested in him—and he wants to believe everything she tells him. Do you think he was too trusting of her? Would you have been?

3. One of the things Tom holds on to in the story is that Burt never lied. Is there anyone in your life that you have that kind of confidence in? How does it affect your relationship to have that kind of trust?

4. “Because as long as you do what’s right, you won’t mind if everyone knows.” Even though Tom knows this is true, is it difficult to do this? What’s the right thing to do when you do mess up?

5. At one point Tom realizes, “whatever the truth turns out to be, it’s better to know than not to know. There’s no other way to live.” Do you believe that? Or do you ascribe more to the belief that ignorance is bliss? When has the truth been incredibly hard for you to hear? Were you ultimately glad you knew?

6. Karen Lee had known for a while that Dr. Cameron was providing illegal drugs to the football team but she was afraid to do anything about it. How difficult is it to stand up for the truth when you know there could be very real consequences such as the loss of a job or danger to yourself? Have you ever been in a situation like that?

7. Burt tells Tom, “Being the guy he made you—that’s the bigger game.” How do you play the bigger game in your life? What were you made to do?

8. Tom was so focused on Marie that he didn’t realize how much Lisa really cared about him. Have you ever missed out—or almost missed out—on something good because it wasn’t what you thought you wanted?

9. At the monastery Tom hears a voice tell him: “That’s your mission. Live. And don’t just live. Live in joy. Even in your sorrow, Tom, live in joy. That’s what I made you for. Remember the Warrior. Play the bigger game.” If you had been in Tom’s place, shot and dying in the monastery, would you have continued to fight? What would you have hung on to that was worth fighting—and living—for?