Sweetbitter

Why doesn’t Danler reveal the name of her central protagonist and narrator until late in the book? What does this withholding do for the overall plot and the development of its themes?

How does New York City function as both a setting and a symbol in this novel? In what specific ways does it represent constant change? Give examples to support all of your claims.

What are some important lessons that Tess learns about herself and about life through working at the restaurant? How does her job lead to significant character development? Could this development have occurred in another work environment? Why or why not?

Sweetbitter is a coming-of-age story. In what ways does Tess grow or change from the beginning of the novel to the end? Are all of these changes positive? What does her journey say about the process of growing up?

What is Danler’s message about the currency of youth? How does she develop this message, and is it, in your interpretation, a positive or negative assessment?

In your opinion, is Jake’s relationship with Simone holding him back? What could Jake’s future look like if he let go of Simone? Similarly, what could Simone’s life look life without Jake? Who has more to lose? Explain your reasoning.

What roles do the other backwaiters, Ariel, Sasha, and Will, play in Tess’s character development? How might have Tess’s life been different if she had dated Will? Be specific in analyzing each character.

What is Tess’s attraction to Simone? What influence does Simone have over the course of the novel? What does Tess’s attraction to her reveal about Tess’s sense of self?