Her son Zach has been accused of committing a hate crime against the Somali community of Shirley Falls. The two have a seemingly loving but competitive relationship that is only truly challenged after their sister Susan calls them seeking assistance. Jim has been especially successful as a corporate lawyer while Bob became a Legal Aid attorney. In the years that followed they managed to find careers in the legal field in New York City. The novel is set in the fictional New England town of Shirley Falls, the setting of Strout's first novel, Amy and Isabelle.Īfter their father died in a freak car accident, Jim and Bob Burgess were eager to leave their home in Shirley Falls, Maine. The story follows two brothers who must return home to help out their sister after her son is accused of a hate crime. The novel was first published in hardback on March 26, 2013, through Random House.

Both Burgess brothers are lawyers.The Burgess Boys (2013) is the fourth book by the American author Elizabeth Strout.

What do you think compelled Zach to throw the pig’s head into the mosque?.

Once Jim takes responsibility for their father’s death, what journey does Bob have to take to first separate from and then return to his brother? What about their relationship changes? What, if anything, remains the same?.

What do you think causes each individual response, and how do you see it change?

What did you learn about the Somali population in Shirley Falls? How do you see this as a particularly American story, if you do? And if not, why not? Initially, each of the Burgess siblings reacts uniquely to the Somali population.

To many readers, Jim may seem more competent than Bob in dealing with Zach’s “prank.” Do you agree? If not, why not?.

Which Burgess brother, Jim or Bob, did you find more sympathetic? Did you find yourself changing your mind as the story unfolded?.

How has each one compensated for this in his or her personal and professional adult life? The Burgess siblings have lived with a childhood trauma their whole lives.Why there, when they could have gone anywhere? And why did Susan stay behind? Jim and Bob Burgess both left Shirley Falls for New York City.How did the narrator’s introduction telegraph your expectations about the Burgess family?.

Questions for Discussion The Burgess Boys

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout