Book Club Discussion Questions
Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!
- The story of Ernest starts off on a very sad note. Do you condemn Ernest's mother for her actions, and if so, what were her alternatives?
- The early suffrage movements in the U.S. all took place in what were regarded as frontier territories in the west. Why do you think the trends of suffrage and vice emerged at the same time, in the same places? (Like Wyoming, where women first got the vote in 1869).
- Those suffrage campaigns were often intertwined with religious movements. When did women's rights diverge somewhat from a religious underpinning and why?
- This book ultimately deals with prostitution. Is there an intersection between prostitution, personal agency, and feminism? Or are these mutually exclusive concepts?
- Caucasian prostitution in the early 20th century has often been glamorized, while Asian prostitution has been demonized. Is there truth behind those cultural tropes? Are our historical perceptions off? What's the reality of those perceptions then—and now?
- Madam Flora and Miss Amber have a unique relationship. Do you see this as one born of love, of shared business interests, or a bit of both?
- Speaking of business interests, do you see Madam Flora and Miss Amber as two people exploiting young women, or benefiting them?
- Early world's fairs often had ethnographic exhibits—human zoos, if you will. When did this stop being socially acceptable and why the change?
- World's fairs also try to be predictive of the future. The 1962 World's Fair boasted the latest technology and hinted at a grand technological leap. Were those predictions right?
- At the Tenderloin (and in the character of Turnbull) we see wealthy, successful men breaking rules and social conventions. Is there a modern analog? Are wealthy men today able to live above and beyond the margins of law and civil discourse and if so, who, and how are they able to get away with such behavior?
- For much of the book, the reader is wondering whom Ernest will ultimately end up marrying. Did he make the right choice? Why or why not?
- Lastly, Ernest and Fahn read a certain book by Henry de Vere Stacpoole. How does that novel reflect the innocence and tragedy of their relationship? And do you know what that book is? (Hint, it was made into a somewhat cheesy movie in the 80s).
Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Ballantine Books.
Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.
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