Reading guide for Tiffany Blues by M.J. Rose

Reading Guide Questions

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. In the prologue, how does Jenny feel when she sees Laurelton Hall in ruins? What memories does she associate with the estate?
2. Describe Minx and Jenny's relationship and their similarities and differences in both personality and art.
3. How does New York's culture and society in 1924 influence the arts?
4. What is Jenny's reaction when she realizes Minx sold her drawing to the New York Herald Tribune? Why? How would you feel in her shoes?
5. Discuss Ben and Jenny's thoughts about beauty on page 45. With whom do you agree?
6. Why do you think Minx's mother tells Jenny about her daughter's past? Describe Jenny's reaction to these revelations. Does Minx's past affect your reading of her character?
7. Mr. Tiffany says to Jenny, "You're wounded and need to heal. The business of living can steal away the wonder of life. One man's ugliness can blind another to the world's magic" (page 136). How does his wisdom impact Jenny?
8. When Ben writes to Jenny asking her to share her secrets (page 144), why does she refuse? How do you feel about this decision?
9. Why doesn't Jenny immediately confront Minx when she notices her and Edward's strange behaviors?
10. What does Oliver do to convince Jenny to use colors again? Describe this moment.
11. How does Edward fit into Jenny's past? Were you surprised by the revelation?
12. What kind of life does Jenny lead after leaving Laurelton Hall? How does she change from beginning to end? Would you say that she found a happy ending? Discuss.

Enhance Your Book Club

1. To learn more about the real-life Louis Comfort Tiffany and his works, visit the Morse Museum in Florida.
2. "Why are some people so committed to recreating the world around them, to synthesizing their surroundings and remaking them in their own vision? And others take the world at face value and are satisfied?" (page 69). Discuss your answers to this question.
3. Enroll in an art class with your fellow members. Draw or paint something with colors, then without colors.
4. "There is beauty even in broken things. That through the cracks, light still shines" (page 304). Do you agree with this statement?

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