Religion is probably the most notable topic of exploration in A Death in the Family. It is the greatest cause of discussion and strife within both the nuclear family of Mary, Jay, Rufus, and little Catherine, and in Mary's extended family. Mary and Hannah are the only two out of all of the family members who deeply believe in God and the Catholic Church.
Agee on memory
Throughout the novel, Agee explores the memories of a number of different characters, most notably Rufus.
Flashbacks, his most common means of doing so, gives us a view of which memories have stayed with the characters through the years. In seeing this, we gain insight into what events have helped to shape the characters' personalities.
The italicized passages, which give the most detailed memories, are all Rufus's except the introductory part before the beginning of the novel, titled "Knoxville: Summer 1915." The first memory describes, in almost poetic form, Rufus's fear of the dark when he was very small—young enough to be in a crib. His father comes in and sings to him for a long time, soothing the young Rufus. The long, detailed passages in which Rufus seems to have a conversation with the dark demonstrate what a sensitive child he is. At the time, Mary is pregnant with little Catherine, and the rest of the italicized passage discusses her pregnancy. The second passage in italics consists of three distinct memories: the boys who used to tease Rufus on their way to school, the visit to see Great-Great-Grandmother Follet, and a trip Rufus's family took when Uncle Ted played a joke on him. All of these events in the novel help to show how deeply affected Rufus is by various events, and primarily how eager he is to please those around him.
Flashbacks, his most common means of doing so, gives us a view of which memories have stayed with the characters through the years. In seeing this, we gain insight into what events have helped to shape the characters' personalities.
The italicized passages, which give the most detailed memories, are all Rufus's except the introductory part before the beginning of the novel, titled "Knoxville: Summer 1915." The first memory describes, in almost poetic form, Rufus's fear of the dark when he was very small—young enough to be in a crib. His father comes in and sings to him for a long time, soothing the young Rufus. The long, detailed passages in which Rufus seems to have a conversation with the dark demonstrate what a sensitive child he is. At the time, Mary is pregnant with little Catherine, and the rest of the italicized passage discusses her pregnancy. The second passage in italics consists of three distinct memories: the boys who used to tease Rufus on their way to school, the visit to see Great-Great-Grandmother Follet, and a trip Rufus's family took when Uncle Ted played a joke on him. All of these events in the novel help to show how deeply affected Rufus is by various events, and primarily how eager he is to please those around him.
2008 Books
| MONTH | HOST | BOOK |
| January | Lione | Faceless Killers |
| February | Almquest | All Quiet on the Western Front |
| March & April | NO MEETING | |
| May | Grotta/Boudreaux | Fire in the Blood |
| June | Armstrong | Old Filth |
| July | Waltzer | North River |
| August | Simonetti | Four Souls |
| September | Lione | The Shack |
| October | Scheffler | Amsterdam |
| November | Grotta/Boudreaux | Loving Frank |
| December | Almquist | Mr. Pip |
2007
| DATE | HOST | LEADER | BOOK |
| February | Grotta/Boudreaux | Ronnie | Fatelessness |
| March | Armstrong | Mark | After This |
| April | Lione | John | Brooklyn Follies |
| May | Scheffler | Emily | The Great Gatsby |
| June | Waltzers | Sue | The Glass Castle |
| July | Armstrongs | Lois | Founding Brothers |
| September | Almquist | Wayne | Last Town on Earth |
| October | Grotta/Boudreaux | Lynne | The Light of Day |
| November | Scheffler | Jack | Pearl Harbor |
2006
| DATE | HOST | LEADER | BOOK |
| January | Armstrong | Mark | Veronica |
| February | Lione | Lynn | The Pearl Diver |
| March | Waltzer | Sue | March |
| April | No Meeting | ||
| May | Grotta/Boudreaux | Lois | The Devil in the White City |
| June | Almquist | Jack | House Made of Dawn |
| July | Waltzers | Jerry | My Antonia |
| August | Armstrong | John | The World of Apples |
| September | Almquist | Emily | Alentejo Blue |
| October | No Meeting | ||
| November | Scheffler | Kathy | Digging to America |
| December | Lione | Frank | Persuasion |
2005
| DATE | HOST | LEADER | BOOK |
| January | Scheffler | Lynn | The Bee Season |
| February | Grotta/Boudreaux | Kathy | Book of Salt |
| March | NO MEETING | ||
| April | NO MEETING | Sue's Birthday | |
| May | Lione | Emily | The Piano Tuner |
| June | Waltzer | Lois | Disgrace |
| July | Armstrong | Jack | The Namesake |
| August | Waltzer | Kathy | History of Love |
| September | Grotta | John | Man in the Gray Flannel Suit |
| October | Scheffler | Ronnie | These is My Words |
| November | Lione ?? | Wayne | Gideon |
| December | Almquist | Ronnie | These Is My Words |
2004
| DATE | HOST | LEADER | BOOK |
| January | Armstrong | Mark | Waiting |
| February | none | ||
| March | Lione | Emily | Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman |
| April | Grotta | Lois | The Unwanted |
| May | Scheffler | Kathy | Girl in Hyacinth Blue |
| June | Almquist | Sue | Atonement |
| July | Grotta/Boudreaux | Wayne | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time |
| August | Waltzer | Jerry | The Five People You Want to Meet in Heaven |
| September | Grotta | John | Roads |
| October | Lione | Ronnie | The Kite Runner |
| November | Almquist | Jack | The Captain's Wife |
| December | Armstrong | Mark | Postville |
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