Searching for Sylvie Lee

Discuss the theme of The Harm of Everyday Racism and Prejudice. Which of the characters experience racism? How does it affect their lives?

Choose two characters who experience cultural dissonance. Compare and contrast their experiences. How does cultural dissonance affect their identities?

Discuss Sylvie’s relationship with Amy. How would you characterize their bond? Do these two women truly know one another as well as they think?

Discuss Helena’s characterization. Are you more sympathetic to her at the end of the story than at the beginning? Why or why not?

Discuss the motif of Buddhism. What does the novel tell you about the tenants and practices of Buddhism? How do the different characters’ relationships with Buddhism speak to the novel’s broader themes?

What does the doll, Tasha, represent? How does it speak to Kwok’s depiction of the immigrant experience, especially in terms of culture?

Consider the structure of the novel. Why does Kwok choose to use multiple perspectives? Why present tense? How do these choices affect the story and help build the novel’s themes?

Discuss Sylvie’s death by suicide. Why did she choose to end her own life? How would Kwok’s commentary on the novel’s themes change if Sylvie lived?