What Night Brings

Food, especially in the context of Marci’s family dinners and her garden, is a recurring theme throughout What Night Brings. How does the family’s relationship to food change through the novel? How does that reflect the changes Marci and her family experience?

In the climax of What Night Brings, it is Corin who ultimately frees Marci and herself from Eddie. How did Trujillo foreshadow this? How did Marci’s growth as the novel’s protagonist make Corin’s choice possible?

Tommy’s sexual orientation gives him something in common with Marci. The fact that he is having an affair with a clergy member also affects Marci’s journey. In terms of Marci’s growth, what is the significance of Tommy having a romantic relationship with a priest? How does this impact Marci’s inner struggle?

Delia is a passive character for much of the novel. How does her devotion to Eddie compare to Marci’s religious faith? Why is Marci able to grow and move on while Delia remains with Eddie?

Marci often observes trauma in others. She notices the same blank stare in both Danny and Corin, for example. Because she is the narrator, Marci’s own trauma is more deeply hidden. Other than physical marks, what impact has Eddie’s abuse had on Marci? How does her trauma manifest within the narrative?

When describing her mental state during Eddie’s attacks, Marci says, “It was like I was across the room watching him come after me, chase me, then catch me” (11). Marci is often observes the world objectively. How is this helpful in her growth? How does it get in her way?

When Marci borrows Tommy’s camera to spy on Eddie and Wanda, the novel becomes less violent and more humorous. What purpose does this serve in the structure of What Night Brings? Why is it appropriate to take this turn just before the climax?

In the novel’s final section, Marci watches Robbie’s dog give birth. One of the puppies dies. The dog licks the puppy as if it is alive but allows it to be taken away without a fight. How does this reflect Marci’s relationships with her parents? What is the purpose of the puppy’s death so late in the novel?