Voorheesville Public Library

QUESTIONS

Who are the lost men of the title and what have they lost?
Why is it difficult for Westen to understand his father?
What is the importance of home and property to the people in the book? What hold does it have on them?
Why do Westen and his father play card games? Why don’t they just talk to each other?
Why doesn’t Xin tell his son about the circumstances of his leaving China?
What are Westen’s impressions of China? Does he start to feel a connection to his Chinese heritage while he is there?
In many of the places Westen and Xin visit they see water and sometimes fish. What do the water and the fish represent? Are there other recurring images or symbols?
As Xin and Westen start to reveal feelings and secrets to each other, is either of them truly honest?
Westen is angry that his family changed his name. What is the significance of names in the novel?
Is the narration by Westen and Xin in alternate chapters effective? Why did the author write the first and last chapter in the third person? Who is this third narrator?
At the conclusion of the trip, as Westen watches China’s mainland retreat in the wake of the boat, he thinks, “Has China failed me, or have I failed it?” What does he mean? Why does he think he has failed China?
Does Westen get over his resentment at his father’s neglect of him?
What do you think of Westen’s decision at the end of the book? Does it seem consistent with his personality?
Does Westen ultimately decide where he belongs? How does he identify himself?
As an adult, Westen seems strangely unattached. He has chosen to live an isolated life, without lovers and with few friends. How does his life change after his reunion with his father? Does he find contentment?

Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)


	Lost Men by Brian Leung
	QUESTIONS Who are the lost men of the title and what have they lost? Why is it difficult for Westen to understand his father? What is the importance of home and property to the people in the book? What hold does it have on them? Why do Westen and his father play card games? Why don’t they just talk to each other? Why doesn’t Xin tell his son about the circumstances of his leaving China? What are Westen’s impressions of China? Does he start to feel a connection to his Chinese heritage while he is there? In many of the places Westen and Xin visit they see water and sometimes fish. What do the water and the fish represent? Are there other recurring images or symbols? As Xin and Westen start to reveal feelings and secrets to each other, is either of them truly honest? Westen is angry that his family changed his name. What is the significance of names in the novel? Is the narration by Westen and Xin in alternate chapters effective? Why did the author write the first and last chapter in the third person? Who is this third narrator? At the conclusion of the trip, as Westen watches China’s mainland retreat in the wake of the boat, he thinks, “Has China failed me, or have I failed it?” What does he mean? Why does he think he has failed China? Does Westen get over his resentment at his father’s neglect of him? What do you think of Westen’s decision at the end of the book? Does it seem consistent with his personality? Does Westen ultimately decide where he belongs? How does he identify himself? As an adult, Westen seems strangely unattached. He has chosen to live an isolated life, without lovers and with few friends. How does his life change after his reunion with his father? Does he find contentment? Questions compiled by Suzanne Fisher (fishers@uhls.lib.ny.us)