The Postcard

Why is this true family history written as a novel? In what ways does this authorial choice benefit the thematic material that permeates the text? What might the effect be if it were only a family history?

What connections between the characters in Book 1 and the characters in Book 2 repeat themselves as the story progresses? Which characters are inherently connected, and why is this important to the novel’s message?

How does the act of writing define multiple generations of women in the Rabinovitch family, and what does this symbolize about communication across generations?

Book 1 reads as a genealogical summary, a preface to the actual novel, which opens with Book 2. Structurally, why would the author choose to withhold the inciting incident, the protagonist’s sudden fixation with the postcard, until the opening pages of Book 2?

The Rabinovitch family flees antisemitism in several countries. What does each family member see and hope for in Paris? Compare their time in Paris with their time in their past homes: Where were they happiest as a collective, and where were they least happy?

Anne claims that she feels the trauma of the Holocaust in her cells. Studies have showed that epigenetic inheritance is likely true—that trauma can be passed down through stress hormone markers in the genes. What does this mean for survivors and their offspring? Use outside sources to support your claims.

Why is Lélia unable to finish researching her mother’s past? In what ways does she inherit her mother’s trauma from the Holocaust? What indicators of eventual forgiveness are offered?

Why does Claire, Anne’s sister, believe in reincarnation and yet spend many years trying to defy the belief through her actions? Explore her belief in reincarnation and trace her overlap with her great aunt.