Why does the protagonist remain unnamed even as readers learn so many details about the family that surrounds her? How should readers infer that Anne Berest, the author, is also the protagonist, and what is the benefit of her going unnamed?

Why is this true family history written as a novel? In what ways does this authorial choice benefit the thematic material that permeates the text? What might the effect be if it were only a family history?

What connections between the characters in Book 1 and the characters in Book 2 repeat themselves as the story progresses? Which characters are inherently connected, and why is this important to the novel’s message?