Discuss Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini

Do you think Greta made the right decision to translate Hitler's manifesto? What do you think you would have done in her position?

Apr. 09, 2020
by sarahb

Overall, what do you think of Resistance Women? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Apr. 09, 2020
by sarahb

Arvid says, "...you must never become accustomed to the extraordinary and outrageous. If you do, little by little, you'll learn to accept anything." Do you agree?

Mar. 28, 2020
by vickic

Do you think Natan is always honest with Sara? Do you think he believes they will both really make it to Switzerland to join their parents, or is he putting on a brave face for Sara’s benefit?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

Do you think that Martha changes over the course of the book? What kind of a person do you think she is?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

Had you heard of Mildred Fish Harnack or the Red Orchestra before reading Resistance Women? What role do novels have in our understanding of history? Did Resistance Women change your perceptions?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

"Perhaps Germany will serve as a warning," Arvid says. "May they learn from us to snuff out fascism in America when the first sparks arise..." Has America learned that lesson?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

How relevant do you think motherhood or childlessness is to the main characters’ stories or to who they are as people?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

Do you think the women had certain advantages or vulnerabilities that their male counterparts did not? Were they considered more expendable or more valuable than men?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

What did you make of Sara's relationship with Dieter? What do you think her life would have been like had she chosen to stay with him and get married?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

Would you say that Dieter is good at heart, or that his choice to fall in line with the Nazis reveals something sinister about who he really is as a person?

Mar. 21, 2020
by charleneds

What role do you think humor plays in the characters’ mental and emotional survival? What do you think it adds to the story?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

Why do you think the Nazis chose to glorify homemaking and childrearing in their vision of the Reich? How did that idealized vision of housewives contrast with what women were actually doing in Germany during the war years?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

How did the women's unique personalities contribute to the resistance fight? Which woman's story resonated with you the most?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

Throughout the book, Greta suffers from the feeling that she comes second to other people in Adam’s life. Can you relate to how she feels?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

Despite having a young child, Greta and Adam still chose to take part in the Red Orchestra. Do you think you would have done the same?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

What effect does the occasional use of the German language have on the story? Do you think it adds to the story's authenticity?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

Mildred chooses to return to Germany, to Arvid and the work of resistance. Do you think that was a foolish decision? A brave one? What would you have done?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

Did the sheer scope and length of the book add to your understanding of how long Jewish people and those in the resistance lived in fear and suffered?

Mar. 17, 2020
by dianaps

We have migrated to a new forum for book club discussions, please join us for our latest discussions on the BookBrowse Community Forum.

Resistance Women

Discuss Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini

Do you think Greta made the right decision to translate Hitler's manifesto? What do you think you would have done in her position?

Overall, what do you think of Resistance Women? (no spoilers in this thread please)

Arvid says, "...you must never become accustomed to the extraordinary and outrageous. If you do, little by little, you'll learn to accept anything." Do you agree?

Do you think Natan is always honest with Sara? Do you think he believes they will both really make it to Switzerland to join their parents, or is he putting on a brave face for Sara’s benefit?

Do you think that Martha changes over the course of the book? What kind of a person do you think she is?

Had you heard of Mildred Fish Harnack or the Red Orchestra before reading Resistance Women? What role do novels have in our understanding of history? Did Resistance Women change your perceptions?

"Perhaps Germany will serve as a warning," Arvid says. "May they learn from us to snuff out fascism in America when the first sparks arise..." Has America learned that lesson?

How relevant do you think motherhood or childlessness is to the main characters’ stories or to who they are as people?

Do you think the women had certain advantages or vulnerabilities that their male counterparts did not? Were they considered more expendable or more valuable than men?

What did you make of Sara's relationship with Dieter? What do you think her life would have been like had she chosen to stay with him and get married?

Would you say that Dieter is good at heart, or that his choice to fall in line with the Nazis reveals something sinister about who he really is as a person?

What role do you think humor plays in the characters’ mental and emotional survival? What do you think it adds to the story?

Why do you think the Nazis chose to glorify homemaking and childrearing in their vision of the Reich? How did that idealized vision of housewives contrast with what women were actually doing in Germany during the war years?

How did the women's unique personalities contribute to the resistance fight? Which woman's story resonated with you the most?

Throughout the book, Greta suffers from the feeling that she comes second to other people in Adam’s life. Can you relate to how she feels?

Despite having a young child, Greta and Adam still chose to take part in the Red Orchestra. Do you think you would have done the same?

What effect does the occasional use of the German language have on the story? Do you think it adds to the story's authenticity?

Mildred chooses to return to Germany, to Arvid and the work of resistance. Do you think that was a foolish decision? A brave one? What would you have done?

Did the sheer scope and length of the book add to your understanding of how long Jewish people and those in the resistance lived in fear and suffered?

Sorry, Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini is closed for new posts.
Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.

We have migrated to a new forum for book club discussions, please join us for our latest discussions on the BookBrowse Community Forum.

Discuss Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini

Sorry, Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini is closed for new posts.Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.

Sorry, Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini is closed for new posts.
Please go to bookbrowse.com/onlinebookclub for a full list of conversations.