If I Survive You

If I Survive You unfolds as a series of interconnected short stories.  Some reviewers have called it a “novel in stories” or a “composite novel” given the continuity in characters and themes across the book. Why do you think Escoffery chose this structure versus that of a more traditional novel?  What did the book gain from it? Would you have preferred a more traditional form?  

How does the title “If I Survive You” relate to the themes and messages of the book? Who or what do you think is the “you” that must be survived? 

The first story, “In Flux,” deals with Trelawny trying to understand his identity and answer the question, “What are you?”  How does this story shed light on the construct of race in America, in particular in terms of how people of different races relate to or define themselves in contrast to one another? 

How does the author use the second-person point of view in the first and second stories? How does it affect your understanding of the characters and their perspectives?

The book closely examines the role of fatherhood.  How do Trelawny, Delano, and Cukie view and relate to their fathers? How do their fathers shape their identities, values, and choices? How does becoming a father impact Delano, Cukie and Topper?

How does Hurricane Andrew affect the lives of the characters and their community? What are some of the physical, emotional, and economic impacts of the disaster?

How do the characters use or adapt Jamaican patois in their speech and writing? How does it reflect their identity and self-perception?

How do Trelawny, Topper and Sandra experience nostalgia and longing for their homeland or past? What are some of the reasons and consequences of leaving or returning to Jamaica? 

How does the author portray the diversity and complexity of Miami as a city with multiple racial and ethnic groups? How do the characters fit or stand out in this environment?

 How do the characters define and express their masculinity? How do they conform to or resist the expectations and norms of masculinity in their cultures and societies? How does their masculinity affect their relationships and self-esteem?