|
1. |
There are two narrative
strands in the book: Marie’s
story and Miryam’s story.
How do these two strands
connect with one another?
What similarities and
differences do you notice
between Marie and Miryam?
Between Yeshua and Bérenger?
|
|
2. |
How do you respond to Marie
as a character? Do you see
her as traditional or
unconventional, or somewhere
in between? Do you blame her
for Bérenger’s ultimate
descent into worldliness, as
she blames herself?
|
|
3. |
How do you respond to
Bérenger? Do you feel he is
fair to Marie? Do you like
him? Were he living in our
time, do you think he would
have ended up a priest?
|
|
4. |
How does Yeshua come across
in the book? Does the book
present him as a divine
being? Or does he come
across as solely human?
|
|
5. |
How does the political
situation in late-19th
century France as depicted
in the book compare to
politics in 2006 America?
|
|
6. |
Madame Laporte is an
important influence in
Marie’s life. How does she
help Marie to grow? How
might Marie have fared
without the guiding
intelligence of Madame?
|
|
7. |
What liberties has the
author taken with the
traditional gospel stories?
Why do you think she made
those choices? Are there
other gospel stories that
you feel should have been
included? Why? |
|
8. |
How would Marie and
Bérenger’s lives have been
different if they didn’t
have to hide their affection
for one another?
|
|
9. |
Do you believe that it is “a
characteristic of human love
that we must strive to
remake our beloved in our
own image” (300)? Why or why
not? |
|
10. |
What do you think happened
to the treasure?
|
|
11. |
Why do you think the author
chose the epigraphs she did
for the beginning of the
book? How do they relate to
the novel thematically?
|
|
12. |
One critic said that “The
Priest’s Madonna will
challenge your religious
beliefs and deepen your
spirituality at the same
time.” Did you find this to
be true for you? Why or why
not? |
