Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- What do we
learn about Jake Geismar in the opening pages of The Good German?
What are his personal and professional reasons for returning to Berlin, now
that the war in Europe has ended? And what does he hope to find after his
big discovery at the Potsdam Conference? Also, explain how Jake's personal
history-as a somewhat heroic yet exiled American, a cynical but honest
journalist, a former citizen of Berlin, and so forth-influences the novel's
tone, atmosphere, narrative focus, and plot.
- Explain the meaning of the novel's title, giving special attention
to the ironic connotations of the word "good." How-and where,
specifically-does this novel address the difficult issue of morality? Cite
several passages from the book that highlight Kanon's thematic engagement
with questions of good and evil.
- Revisit the scene in Chapter 9 where Jake takes Lena to the
cinema. After the feature, they see a newsreel. What is it about this
newsreel that prompts Jake to whisper "It didn't happen that way" to Lena?
Where else in the novel do we see representatives of the press tinkering
with-or else blatantly reworking-the stories they are reporting? As a group,
explore The Good German's ongoing suggestion that history is
ultimately the product of media spin. Does this suggestion echo the old
dictum that history is written by the winners? Explain why or why not.
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- How does the author develop themes of identity and belonging throughout the narrative?
- What role does the setting play in shaping the characters' decisions and relationships?
- Discuss how the ending reframes the events of the story. Were you surprised?
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Picador.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.