Book Club Discussion Questions for Early Sobrieties by Michael Deagler

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

In a book club? Subscribe to our Book Club Newsletter and get our best book club books of 2026!



For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, South Philadelphia Over the Years and our BookBrowse Review of Early Sobrieties.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. As the novel begins, Dennis is six months sober. What challenges does the decision to start the book at that point in his story present for the narrative? What about opportunities?
2. How would you describe the narrative structure of this book? How does that structure shape your understanding of Dennis as a character or of the experience of sobriety?
3. Dennis is going through cycles, drifting through Philadelphia, almost like a wandering samurai. Which literary archetypes does Dennis either fit into or remind you of? Why?
4. The book is significantly about gentrification. Dennis and his acquaintances are mostly outsiders— young professionals—who have moved into South Philadelphia. Dennis is both similar to his associates—he's a young professional from out of town—and different—he's unemployed and can neither pay rent nor afford to buy a home. Where does he fit into the gentrification narrative?
5. Do you think this novel could take place in any other city, or is Philadelphia (and specifically South Philadelphia) an essential character in this particular story? How might a change in setting affect the narrative?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Astra House. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.