Smoke and Mirrors (65 page)

If you are a music lover like the author is, please take note of the songs mentioned throughout this book. If you are so inclined, re-read the passages with the particular song mentioned to enjoy the book in a new way.

This author is addicted to music. She adds certain songs to specific scenes for a reason, offering the reader an opportunity to re-read the book with the music in mind. Thus, she has made an effort to start offering her readers a directory of the songs she mentions in various scenes. If you enjoy some of the music mentioned, please purchase the song/album from iTunes, or some other legitimate website so that the artist receives the proceeds of a job well done. Tiana Laveen doesn’t personally know any of the artists mentioned in this list, and simply wishes for them to be acknowledged for their hard work and talent.

1.   DRU DOWN – Can You Feel Me?

2.   ARCTIC MONKEYS – Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High

3.   JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND SNOOP DOGG – Signs

4.   ARCTIC MONKEYS – I Wanna Be Yours

5.   ARCTIC MONKEYS – Do I Wanna Know

6.   BEN FOLD FIVE – Draw a Crowd

7.   JOHN MAYER – Waiting on the World to Change

8.   JOHN MAYER – Vultures

9.   VANITY – NASTY GIRL

10.  GLASS ANIMALS – Gooey

11.  GHOST LOFT – So High

12.  COLOR ME BADD – I Wanna Sex You Up

13.  INCUBUS – Drive

14.  BREAKING BENJAMIN – Sooner or Later

15.  MADONNA – Like a Virgin

16.  LYKKE LI – Little Bit

17.  BOYS 2 MEN – The Color of Love

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1.   Smoke is a rather complicated man. Some parts of his personality are understandable, while others are only revealed during extreme circumstances. In what ways did you see his character grow and transform?

2.   Both Smoke and Paris suffered from incidents of abuse as children. How do you think these circumstances affected Paris vs. Smoke, insofar as who they later became as adults?

3.   Paris represents a strong, independent woman who doesn’t bow out or give up. However, inside, Paris is wounded and somewhat vulnerable. How does this duality in her personality affect and influence others with respect to business dealings, as well as her personal life?

4.   Despite the abuse Smoke suffered at the hands of his mother, why do you believe he still takes care of her in some regard and doesn’t want her harmed?

5.   Smoke’s father was obviously a bad influence. Yet, how did Smoke’s father possibly help him, as it pertains to growing up and becoming a man?

6.   Once Smoke realizes he is interested in Paris, he goes after her, full steam ahead. What do you believe made him ready to go forward when, typically, he would not have been interested in settling down?

7.   When Smoke goes to prison, Paris steps up to the plate and runs his life as well as she ran her brothel. Why do you believe she stayed with him and did everything she could on his behalf?

8.   In this book, there is a lot of symbolism used, as in many of the author’s books. One metaphor often used relates to reflections, mirroring, etc. In what ways did Paris and Smoke mirror each other, and in what ways did they differ?

9.   Some people are unable to look at themselves in the mirror and deal with the truth of who they are, and the things they’ve done. Smoke’s mother is a perfect example of this. During their last encounter, Smoke deals with her in an entirely new way. What growth happened with him as a person/character that allowed him to deal with his mother in a less angry, but nevertheless, direct way?

10.  Smoke struggles with his own religious/spiritual beliefs. Why do you think, towards the end, he began to believe that God was real?

11.  A character in the book that represented different facets of Smoke was Felecia, Smoke’s ‘bottom bitch.’ In what ways did Felecia represent him and the world he’d come from, as well as the world in which she, herself, was enmeshed?

12.  At the end, with a bunch of time, patience, an old connection from his life as a pimp after he joined forces with Paris as well as work and perseverance, Smoke is able to get married, have a family, and get his commercial piloting license. He would have never dreamed this possible. Do you believe it is likely for a man such as Smoke to be able to turn his life around, especially after receiving love from a good woman?

13.  Smoke has always had a love for flying, aircrafts and model airplanes. What symbolism did we see in the story that was tied directly to this love of flight?

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“Knowing yourself is the beginning to all wisdom.”

—Aristotle