The Book of Lost Names

1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Think about other books you may have read that feature female Allied resistance in World War II and where libraries play an important role. For instance, The Librarian Spy, The Keeper of Hidden Books, or The Paris Library. How does this book compare with others in this genre?
• Why do you think a love story is told alongside a war story? How does the love story alter the war story, and vice versa?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• The book begins with 86-year-old Eva recognizing a book from her twenties in the newspaper. As an adult, have you ever had a surprise encounter with something that was meaningful to you in childhood or young adulthood? What was the object and its meaning? How does it relate to Eva’s emotional experience with the Book of Lost Names?
• In one of Eva’s moments of doubt, meeting with the Jewish children she is forging documents for helps renew her resolve. What gets you through your moments of doubt?
• At the end of the book, Eva and Rémy reunite after decades apart, showing that you are never too old to begin a new journey.