The Echo of Old Books

A novel about the magical lure of books and summoning the courage to rewrite our stories by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings and The Last of the Moon Girls.

Rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer's affinity for books extends beyond the intoxicating scent of old paper, ink, and leather. She can feel the echoes of the books' previous owners--an emotional fingerprint only she can read. When Ashlyn discovers a pair of beautifully bound volumes that appear to have never been published, her gift quickly becomes an obsession. Not only is each inscribed with a startling incrimination, but the authors, Hemi and Belle, tell conflicting sides of a tragic romance.

With no trace of how these mysterious books came into the world, Ashlyn is caught up in a decades-old literary mystery, beckoned by two hearts in ruins, whoever they were, wherever they are. Determined to learn the truth behind the doomed lovers' tale, she reads on, following a trail of broken promises and seemingly unforgivable betrayals. The more Ashlyn learns about Hemi and Belle, the nearer she comes to bringing closure to their love story--and to the unfinished chapters of her own life.

These book club questions were prepared by Bookclubs staff. These questions include spoilers for the book's ending.

Book club questions for The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

Discuss Ashlyn's rare ability to feel the "echoes" of a book's previous owners. Would you want to have this ability? Why or why not?

What did you think of the dual narrative structure, with Ashlyn's story in 1984 interwoven with Belle and Hemi's tale from 1941? How did this format impact your reading experience?

Which element of the book did you prefer? Belle and Hemi's doomed love story, or Ashlyn's mystery as she sought to uncover Belle and Hemi's identities?

Discuss the significance of the two mysterious books - "Remembering Belle" and "Forever, and Other Stories" - to the overall plot. Why do you think the author chose to make physical books such an important part of the mystery?

Ashlyn struggles with lingering grief and trauma from her childhood and past marriage. How do you think this affects her reactions and decisions in the story?

How would you describe Belle and Hemi's personalities and motivations? Did your opinions of them change throughout their unfolding story?

Belle faces pressure from her father and sister Cee-Cee to marry Teddy. How does this family dysfunction shape her choices? Do you sympathize at all with Cee-Cee's meddling?

Did certain plot twists or reveals in the 1941 narrative surprise you? Were you able to piece together the full story before the conclusion?

Discuss the significance of secrets, misunderstandings, and switched letters in the conflict between Belle and Hemi. Do you think the damage could have been repaired if they had communicated honestly and directly?

What are your thoughts on Marian and Hemi's reconciliation decades after their thwarted romance? Did it feel earned or unrealistic?

What main themes stood out to you in this novel? How do books themselves act as symbols and metaphors throughout the story?

The Echo of Old Books Book Club Questions PDF

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