Discuss how each of the main characters continues to be pulled back into the past. In what ways are the characters' attempts to regain their lost paradises helpful or hurtful?

Discuss how each of the main characters continues to be pulled back into the past. Proust tells Camille, "The only place where you can regain lost paradises is in yourself." In what ways are the characters' attempts to regain their lost paradises helpful or hurtful?

Alex George did a great job weaving the past into the story lines. He added just enough information without over-shadowing the 24 hours of that day. The back stories were so important to help us fall in love and "root" for each one of them. Their pasts have led them to make mistakes in their present; despite trying their best to be "good". Each character is trying to fix his/her mistakes/regrets.

Souren: Overall, I think his attempt helps him in that he dies. It seemed as though he was so utterly lonely, lost, and depressed that for him death (especially by fire) was his only solace.
Camille: We don't know if her attempts were helpful or hurtful. We need a sequel ;)
Guillaume: His situation both helped and hurt him. He tried to make amends by rescuing the unknown man who was with Therese. I'm not sure that he truly believes Suzanne, in that the child is not his; therefore he might be suffering with doubt and suspicion the rest of his life?
Jean Paul: We need a sequel ;)

Souren-- While he longs for the familiarity of his lost Armenia etc, what he really suffers from is guilt for allowing his brother to die in the flames. I don't think he would ever be able to overcome that.

Jean-Paul--I think with the loss of his book about the lost Elodie, he may finally be free to go to America and start over. He could not truly let go to the thought that she might come back to her home. The symbolic loss of her in the new flames may be enough. I hope he never finds out that she is there in the hotel. Marie is not Elodie--Camille and Olivier are her parents.

Camille--Keeping that notebook and not sharing its contents with her husband was going to destroy their marriage, I think. That whole time with Proust was a mistake and the best thing that happened was Marie so that they at least got their own home. I hope when she gets the notebook back she puts it right into the woodstove and never looks back.

Guillaume drove me nuts--maybe he should go home and grow up. Paint as a hobby, marry a local girl and get on with reality. He was so immature in every way and needed the fire to make him realize Suzanne was an idle dream just like his hope of making it as an artist.

The day needed the past in order to be understood. Was the fire a division and as tepose into the future? Others speak of a sequel, but I like creating my own future for the characters.

For each of the characters their past makes them who they are today. Each experienced a profound moment in their lives. Those moments culminated during that 24 hour period. They tried unsuccessfully to fix rather than accept.