Playing For Pizza

Explore the role of food in the novel. What role do food and drink play in illuminating characterization, narrative momentum, and/or key thematic ideas?

Examine Grisham’s depiction of people working in professional football, such as Rick’s sports agent Arnie and the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ coach Rat Mullins. How are they characterized? What is their wider significance in the text?

Compare and contrast the characters of Gabriella Ballini and Livvy Galloway. How are gender roles and dynamics depicted in the text? How does Rick’s attitude and behavior toward women change over the course of the novel?