The Secret Life of Sunflowers

1. General Impressions 

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Before reading the novel, were you familiar with van Gogh’s art and life? Did you assume that his art was appreciated during his lifetime? How did reading The Secret Life of Sunflowers change or challenge your understanding of Vincent van Gogh and his art?
• Do you tend to prefer works of historical fiction or books set in the contemporary era? How do you find female characters are portrayed differently in different time periods? Can reading about the experiences of women from different eras shed light on the struggles and experiences of women in the present day?
• Discuss the effect of alternating storylines within the novel. Did the alternating storylines make the narrative more engaging? Did you prefer one storyline over the other?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

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

• Reading Johanna’s story helps to keep Elmsley motivated and resilient as she navigates difficult circumstances and fights for her business. When you have encountered challenging experiences, whom or what have you found inspiring?
• Johanna has an unshakeable belief that Vincent’s art is beautiful and deserves to be celebrated. Have you ever seen potential in a person or project when others did not? Did you fight for this potential to be recognized? Why or why not?
• Elmsley learns many secrets and new information about Violet’s life after Violet passes away. Are there family members whom you wish you knew more about? Do you think they would be willing to share more about their lives if asked to do so?
• When Elmsley learns that Violet was sexually assaulted, she confronts the perpetrator even though he is wealthy and powerful. Have you ever had to challenge or call out someone who was in a position of power? What gave you the courage to do so?

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• Vincent van Gogh experienced mental illness, which contributed to his eventual death by suicide. Do you think that society has become more accepting of or knowledgeable about mental illness over time? What stigmas still exist around mental illness and suicide?
• Violet hides the experience of her sexual assault during her lifetime. Do you think that social movements such as MeToo have made it more acceptable for individuals to come forward and share their experiences of sexual harassment and assault? Do you think society benefits from the sharing of these stories?

4. Literary Analysis

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• Consider the work’s narrative structure. How does the use of alternating storylines support the work’s overall meaning?
• Molnar repeatedly uses language to represent works of visual art (a literary device known as ekphrasis). What techniques (metaphor, imagery, etc.) allow her to evoke the art she describes? Could you picture the paintings she was writing about?
• How does Elmsley evolve and change over the course of the plot? How does learning about the experiences of other women such as Violet and Johanna give her clarity about her own life?
• Letters and journals play a significant role in the plot. How do these documents relate to themes of memory and legacy? In what way is the novel a way of commemorating history? How is fiction different from other types of documents?
• Molnar vividly evokes the setting of Paris. Why is Paris depicted as a place where artists can thrive and explore creativity and unconventional ideas?

5. Creative Engagement 

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• Look at images of van Gogh’s sunflower paintings. Does any one particularly appeal to you? Do the paintings evoke any of the moods or themes you encountered in the novel?
• The novel mentions a number of other visual artists who knew van Gogh, including Paul Gauguin and Claude Monet. Research the biography of one of these artists. Would you be interested in reading a novel based on their life?

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