Tear the City Down

Coltrane wants out so he can sit courtside for his daughter's tennis matches. Who showed up for you growing up, at a game, a recital, or a big moment, and how did that feel?

Before this book, what did San Diego mean to you? Beaches, sunshine, a trip you took? Did reading it change the picture in your head?

Coltrane is both a knight and a hustler. When did you find yourself rooting for him, and when did you want to shake him? What made you keep caring about him?

Wanting to be 'the dad he always wanted to be' suggests Coltrane is trying to give his daughter something he may not have had. Have you ever tried to give someone the thing you once needed yourself?

Leaving a life you're good at, even one you've outgrown, is hard. Have you ever walked away from a job, a role, or a version of yourself? What helped you take the step?

This story looks at the side of a city that postcards leave out. Is there a part of your own hometown that outsiders never see but that you feel protective of?

By the last page, how did you feel about Coltrane's chances at the peaceful life he wants? Did the book leave you hopeful, uneasy, or somewhere in between, and why?

Looking back over the whole story, which moment between Coltrane and the people he loves stayed with you most? What does it say about what 'getting out' really costs?