Reading Guide 1

1. After reading Chapter One . . . what are three personality traits of Hap Bowman? Three for Laramie Majors? In what ways are Hap and Laramie the same?
2. How do you think Hap really felt about the Juanita in Chapter 1? How did Laramie feel about her?
3. Why do you think Juanita stays with Francis?
4. How does Laramie's past shape his everyday life?
5. Okay . . . from what you know about Hap so far . . . why do you think he's so focused on this "idiot obsession?"
6. What does Hap's response to the shrine at the bottom of the barranca tell you about him?
7. What is "cowboy pride" anyway?
8. What does Laramie see in Annamarie? He says finding Annamarie is "divine providence." What do you think?
9. Are Annamarie and Laramie right for one another? Why or why not?
10. What other way could Hap and Laramie have dealt with the two teenage girls?
11. What does the opening rodeo scene in Chapter Four tell you about Hap and Laramie and their relationship?
12. How does Hap's account of Juanita Guzman help you understand him better?
13. Okay . . . bite the bullet . . . in the second scene with Hap and Juanita Guzman, was she using him? Was he naive? Does this scene make you think less of Hap . . . or more? Why?
14. Did you ever have any obsessions when you were that age? What were they? How did they influence your life?
15. How has Rosa Tryor's past shaped her present?
16. In Chapter Six . . . Hap and Rosa . . . Laramie and Annamarie . . . are beginning to sound like couples. What kinds of problems can you already tell that both couples will face?
17. What drives Hap to still seek out these Juanitas after he's met Rosa?
18. What does the scene with Juanita Marta teach Hap?
19. In what way does Rosa change Hap? In what way does he change her?
20. Okay, the big question . . . would it really work out for Hap and Rosa? For Laramie and Annamarie? Why? Why not? What would be the biggest problems for each couple?