1. Jack Rand Connelly has a strong influence on many of the characters. Why is he not more of a "physical" presence?

2. Lyle Dean Jackson and Evelyne Elizabeth Connelly are both doctors' wives. What are the similarities and differences between the two women?

3. The women in the novel are sheltered from a lot of the men's "secrets." Do you think this has to do with the times they live in or are there other reasons?

4. What is the significance of the title and Dr. Connelly's words to Melba about "the air between us"?

5. There are three children: Skippy Jackson, Janet Puckett, and Critter Tate. What role does each play in the final outcome of the novel?

6. Why does Reese Jackson disapprove of the relationship between his wife and Madame Melba?

7. What role does the river play in the novel?

8. How did the events of the storyline contribute to the desegregation of the schools?

9. Do you feel the death of Billy Ray Puckett was justified?

10. If you were alive during the 1960s, do you think your town faced the same problems as those in Revere, Mississippi?