The Paris Bookseller

The Paris Bookseller was published 100 years after the historical events described in the novel. What obstacles, conflicts, and challenges present in the novel are still being faced today in different forms?

Why does Shakespeare and Company become so important to the expatriate community? What brings English-speaking expatriates to this place specifically, rather than to one of the many cafés or English-language centers throughout the city?

What does it mean to be a woman in James Joyce’s life? What is his overall attitude toward women? Compare and contrast the elements of his relationships with at least three women, and determine the extent to which each relationship is healthy or unhealthy. Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

How does the novel contrast the attitudes in France with the attitudes in America? How does Joyce’s Ulysses act as a motive force that allows Kerri Maher to examine these cultural differences?

The novel spans a considerable length of time, almost 20 years. What does the book accomplish by relating the events of two decades, rather than a more concise period of Sylvia’s life?

What is the primary source of contention between Joyce and Adrienne? Are they at odds because they have conflicting personalities, or are there particular actions that create this recurring sense of tension?

Sylvia considers the nature of the “Lost Generation” and what it means to be lost. What does the phrase, “the Lost Generation” mean to you? Does it describe an entire time period or a particular type of person?

Ulysses is a retelling of the Greek epic saga The Odyssey, which focuses on the tumultuous journey of a man who spends two decades trying to find his way home. Are there any parallels between The Odyssey and The Paris Bookseller? What elements do they have in common, and why?