The Bookbinder

What are the themes of The Bookbinder?

How would you describe this novel to a friend?

Consider the twin sisters Peggy and Maude. In what ways are they unique? How are they similar? How does the dynamic between the two inform the novel? What does their relationship reveal about sisterhood and family?

Aside from Peggy and Maude, which characters resonated with you most, and why?

The dialogue. The plot. The Oxford setting. What did you love most about the novel, and why?

Have you read other novels set during World War I, or any other conflicts? How is The Bookbinder different?

How did the arrival of refugees heighten the narrative? What did you think of the various reactions to the refugees?

Discuss the con ict between Peggy’s desire to educate herself and her love for the Belgian soldier. How did this novel make you think about the power of books and the written word?

What books have you read that have transformed your life, and how?

Let’s go deeper about the relationship between reading and power. Why do you think some governments ban books? What is it really about?

At its heart, The Bookbinder is a novel about knowledge—who creates it, who can access it, and what truths get lost in the process. What did you learn?

What did you discover about the process of book binding?

How did you feel when you finished the book?

If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?