When the Doves Disappeared Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

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For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Estonia During World War II and our BookBrowse Review of When the Doves Disappeared.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Why might the title When the Doves Disappeared have been chosen for this novel? In addition to the phrase's literal meaning, what major themes of the novel does it encapsulate?
   


2. Consider the structure of the novel. The story oscillates between the Estonia of the 1940s and the Estonia of the 1960s. Likewise, narrative voice and point of view also shift from chapter to chapter. What major themes of the book does this organization of the text help to highlight and support? Alternatively, how might your interpretation of the book have differed if the story had been laid out in a linear fashion or presented with only one narrative voice throughout?
   


3. Evaluate the genre. Should When the Doves Disappeared be considered a work of historical scholarship or is it more aptly categorized as historical fiction? What is the difference between the two genres? In your opinion, which genre is more effective in presenting historical issues to a general public? Which genre?
   

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Vintage. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.