Reading Group Guide

1. Maria Lionza is an actual cult figure in Venezuela. How does the goddess Maria Lionza function as a symbol in The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos?

2. How does the passion fruit vine work as a metaphor in the novel?

3. How much of the ethos of Venezuela has the author been able to convey through the lives of her characters? Has it changed your perception of that country?

4. How does the author juxtapose magic against craziness, ghosts gainst hallucinations, lies against truth, prorevolution against antirevolution, socialism against capitalism?

5. Are the protagonists of the first eight sections of the novel real, figments of Irene’s imagination, or characters she has written into her radio novelas? All of the above?

6. If we live in someone else’s dream/imagination, is our reality as real as that of the dreamer/writer? Is the author suggesting that it is possible to dream something/someone into existence?

7. What does Irene lose and/or gain by becoming “well” and reintegrated into society?

8. Is it possible for the South American radio novela format to serve the purpose of promoting social change? If so, why would radio be a more useful tool in this endeavor than television?

9. The themes of revolution and resistance — the ongoing battle between the people and their leaders — are integral to the story line of the novel. Among the nine primary characters, Ismael, Consuelo, and Amparo are the most overtly “revolutionary”; Lily, Coromoto, Efraín, and Luz are neutral; Marta is opposed to revo lutionary ideology; while Irene appears ambiguous. What might be the author’s intent in representing all these worldviews?