The German Wife

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss your initial reactions to The German Wife.

2. Compare this novel to other books about World War II in Germany, like Elie Wiesel’s Night or Bernhard Schlink’s The Reader.

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. WWII is generally discussed from the perspective of soldiers, political figures, or victims, while The German Wife focuses instead on normal people pulled into extraordinary circumstances. How did you relate to the main characters?

2. Discuss the multi-generational families in The German Wife, especially considering the non-traditional relationships between Mayim and the Rhodes family, Adele’s relationship to Jürgen, and Lizzie’s and Henry’s adult relationships.

3. Rimmer regularly focuses on the experience of women in historical events, and The German Wife is no exception. How did you respond to her treatment of Lizzie and Sofie and the other women in the novel?

4. Jürgen and Calvin are both generally portrayed as supportive and kind husbands to their wives; however, they aren’t perfect. Discuss some of the more problematic interactions within the book’s marriages.