The Smell Of Other People's Houses

Consider Hitchcock’s discussion of Alaska’s statehood in the novel. How do they manifest in each of the individual characters? How do they resonate with contemporary experiences in Alaska, and how might a contemporary setting have altered the characters and plot?

Alaska as a setting is key to the protagonists’ character development. In what ways does the landscape influence their mindsets? What do landscapes such as oceans, trees, and even small towns symbolize about each character?

Analyze the significance of the smell motif in the novel. What does the title imply, and how do the characters relate to smell and odors? Use examples from the text to support your response.

Examine the novel’s exploration of the experience of teen pregnancy. What are the factors that define Ruth’s life? In what ways can the experience of pregnancy be read as a life-changing and even lifesaving, journey for Ruth?

Analyze Hitchcock’s treatment of Indigenous characters in the story with a key focus on Dora. What are the possibilities and limitations of a white writer exploring Indigenous cultures? In what ways do Dora’s traumas differ from the rest of the protagonists, and how does she manage to overcome them?

Hank is the only male narrator in the story. What are the key challenges he encounters as a young man in a coming-of-age journey? How does his journey differ from or coincide with that of the female protagonists? Can he be read as having a parental role, and if so, how does he differ from the parent characters?

What are Alyce’s main limitations in achieving her dreams? How does her experience relate to the theme of familial disruption in the novel? What does Sam’s introduction and presence represent in her journey toward chasing her dreams?

Analyze the course of Ruth’s relationship with her grandmother in the novel, considering the grandmother’s character and background. How do they manage to transform their initially strained relationship into a newfound understanding? How does the physical setting of the abbey facilitate this healing?