Discussion Questions
In a book club? Here are a few questions to fuel your group’s discussion of Her Own Revolution.
- Geneviève replaces names on the guillotine list, a traitorous crime for which she could be sent to the guillotine. She breaks the law. Do you think her actions were wrong? Can you think of circumstances today in which you might break a law?
- During the French Revolution, impersonating a man is also a crime for women. If Geneviève had been caught and brought before her father, do you think he would have imprisoned her in an asylum and order her head to be shaved?
- Although Geneviève loves her former lover, Henri, and corresponds with him, do you think he loved her? Do you think she truly loved Henri?
- Louis LaGarde changed from a self-centered bully into a kind, selfless, and caring man. What or whom do you think caused him to change the most?
- Harboring members of the clergy is also a traitorous crime. Was Geneviève right to rescue the Sisters at Pentemont Abbey? Was she right to offer shelter to the Catholic Chouans, even though she was endangering every person on the Verzat estate?
- Why do you think Geneviève promises herself that she will never reveal Magdeleine’s true cause of death? Was it the right thing to do?
- Geneviève experienced conflicting feelings about her father. Had he been your father, would you have acted as she did?
- Geneviève dislikes her stepmother, but Etty was a typical woman of the time: wanting her stepdaughter to be safely married. Was there a time in recent history where the roles of women a generation apart were as different?
- Were you shocked during the trial when you learned of the improper actions taken by Geneviève’s father? Why do you suppose he was able to remove a name and replace it with another without being found out? Why did no one stop him from executing the wrong people?
- Do you think Louis improved the lentil soup for the orphans for more than one reason?
- Who was your favorite secondary character and why?
- Do you think Geneviève and Louis are well suited to one another? Why or why not?
