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We Must Not Think of Ourselves

A story of love and defiance set in the 1940s Warsaw Ghetto, based on the ...

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Discuss We Must Not Think of Ourselves by Lauren Grodstein

Midway through the novel, Adam encounters a fellow Oneg Shabbat archivist who tells him the ghetto has exposed the rot of Warsaw's Jewish citizens. What do you make of his speech, and of Adam's reaction to it?

7

Jan. 12, 2024
by Lyris

In what ways did this story broaden your understanding of life during the Holocaust?

15

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

What role does Yiddish play in We Must Not Think of Ourselves? What does it symbolize? What is its power?

9

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

In what ways do you feel the children were at the heart of ghetto life?

12

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

Henryk calls Adam a realist, adding that "if the world were only made of realists the world would never change." Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

9

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

What kind of father figure is Adam to the individual children in the story? What do you believe he's attempting to teach them through poetry?

6

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

How did you feel about Henryk Duda, Kasia's father? Did he love Adam, or did he just want to use him for his own ends?

11

Jan. 16, 2024
by beckys

Szifra calls Kipling an "idiot…to think that forgiveness solves anything…It proves that you are willing to roll over when people are walking on your back." What do you think of this statement?

11

Jan. 17, 2024
by Lyris

Overall, what do you think of We Must Not Think of Ourselves? (no spoilers)

19

Jan. 18, 2024
by reene

Mariam Lescovec tells Adam about her father's apprentice, who eventually turned against her family. She adds, "It's easier to think that someone is a coward than a bigot." Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

14

Jan. 18, 2024
by reene

What kept Adam in the ghetto when he might have left to save himself?

9

Jan. 19, 2024
by reene

Have you ever been in a situation where every one of your options is a compromise, that there is no way to do right by everyone?

3

Jan. 25, 2024
by robinsb

If Kasia were alive, do you think she would have accompanied Adam to the ghetto? Would they have been able to escape before the war?

14

Feb. 07, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

Is Sala and Adam's affair immoral? Do you believe they did actually love each other? Do you think others knew what was going on and chose to look the other way?

18

Feb. 07, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

What is Szifra's attitude toward her brothers? Why doesn't she abandon them? What do you think you would have done in her place?

12

Feb. 08, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

What do you make of Adam switching out the photos in the kennkartes?

16

Feb. 08, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

Why do you think more Jews didn't try to leave Poland as conditions deteriorated? Why do you suppose they didn't try to escape from the ghetto?

17

Feb. 08, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

Which characters did you find particularly optimistic? Which were most pessimistic? Did attitude help or hurt these characters? Where do you rate yourself and why?

5

Feb. 08, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

Share your opinion on the following thought from Adam, "What had happened to them in their lives that they couldn't let us live ours?"

10

Feb. 09, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

What's your opinion of Nowak, the guard who helped Adam?

12

Feb. 11, 2024
by Elizabeth Marie

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