Ghosts of Manhattan: A Novel(78)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS


It feels funny to thank Megyn Kelly. She and I are so far beyond that. Not only is a “thanks” beneath the proportion of what she has given, it is also the least profound of the ways that we express what we mean to each other. But there are limits to the Acknowledgments piece of a novel.

Megyn is my biggest supporter and fan, despite the fact that she gets the first read of the first draft (before even I read it) when the novel is in its crappiest state. Her ideas for plot and character development as well as editorial judgment are unsurpassed, and her influence shows up across this novel. Megyn, thank you. I’ll express more outside the confines of these pages.

Thanks to my agents, Lane Zachary and Todd Shuster, for being early believers in the novel and helping to develop it. Also to Jane Rosenman and Jacklyn Brunt for their early feedback. Thanks to Peter and Linda Kirwan for their support. Thanks to Manly Yates Brunt Jr. for instilling in me a love of literature.

At Touchstone, thanks to my brilliant, fun, and dynamic editor, Stacy Creamer. Her ideas and encouragement brought the novel to its final form. Thanks also to Meredith Vilarello and Megan Reid for educating me in the ways of the publishing world.

Thanks to Yates and Yardley. Their presence has changed my life and inspired me to reach for things that make me happy—things like this book.





Ghosts of Manhattan

Douglas Brunt

Reading Group Guide

Introduction

It’s 2005, and thirty five-year-old Wall Street trader Nick Farmer appears to have it all—a successful career at top firm Bear Stearns and a beautiful wife. But after more than a decade of soul-crushing work in a field dominated by greed, drugs, and hypocrisy, Nick is looking for a way out. Yet the prospect of a bigger and better bonus keeps him tied to the lifestyle he now loathes. As this high-powered world of excess and immorality faces an unimaginable crash, Nick struggles to save his career, his marriage, and himself.


Topics & Questions for Discussion

1. Discuss the ways in which Nick Farmer’s story echoes the classic Faustian motif of selling one’s soul to or making a pact with the Devil. Who or what is the “Devil” in this scenario?

2. Nick describes many of his colleagues as soulless and seduced by money. Is Nick a hypocrite? How similar or different is he from those around him? Would you consider him an “outsider” or an “insider”? Is he a sympathetic character? Why or why not?

3. Substance abuse is a normal part of daily life for many of the characters depicted in Ghosts of Manhattan. What role does alcohol and drugs play in Nick’s decision-making process? How does drinking affect his actions?

4. Each part of the novel opens with a quote—ranging from Friedrich Nietzsche to Guns N’ Roses. How do these quotes foreshadow the events that follow in the narrative? How do they frame your reading of Ghosts of Manhattan?

5. Many of the employees at Bear Stearns feel they are above the law. What actions contribute to this attitude? Do you consider Nick to be part of this group?

6. “It occurs to me that in the same way a person can have a kindred spirit or soul mate that they seek out, a person can also have a nemesis that they would like to remove from their life, a person to conquer or be conquered by.” Do you agree with Nick? In what ways does Oliver provide a foil for Nick’s character?

7. How has Nick’s tense relationship with his parents affected his choices as an adult? How would you characterize Nick’s upbringing?

8. Were there any points in the novel that you found to be both humorous and unnerving? How would you describe Nick’s narrative voice? How did this writing style relate to or mirror the themes and plot of Ghosts of Manhattan?

9. “Whatever the answer, I’m not sure I’m the type of person who can have a happy marriage anyway. I’m not that happy a guy and marriage isn’t a magic ingredient.” How would you describe Nick and Julia’s relationship in light of this passage? How does their relationship evolve over the course of the novel?

10. When Nick quits his job, he doesn’t appear to worry that Bear Stearns may threaten him the way they did Freddie. In your opinion, should he have cause for concern? Why or why not?

11.vDo you think Nick can ever fully escape Wall Street’s grasp? Consider the following quote in your response: “A happy career seems even more unlikely. Who the hell likes his job? Trying for more, thinking there could be more, is salt in the wound.” In an ideal world, what do you think he should do next with his life?

12. Freddie confides his suspicions to Nick, whom he enlists as an ally. Did you find Nick to be a particularly trustworthy character? Were you surprised by Nick’s reaction to Freddie’s discoveries?

13. Discuss the role money plays in Ghosts of Manhattan. How are the haves and have-nots defined? What does money equate and what power does it hold over those seeking it?

14. What did you think of the novel’s conclusion? Did you have any lingering questions? Were you satisfied with the ending?


Enhance Your Book Club

1. For another perspective on the financial crisis watch the HBO film Too Big to Fail (2011) or read William Cohan’s House of Cards: A Tale of Hubris and Wretched Excess on Wall Street. How did these nonfiction accounts influence or complement your reading of Ghosts of Manhattan?

2. Discuss an area of your life in which you have felt trapped, similar to how Nick feels trapped in his job. What changes, whether small or large, could you make today to improve the situation?