Use these book club discussion questions on
Beatrice and Virgil by Yann Martel to lead your book club into Martel's addition to Holocaust literature.
- Was the book what you were expecting? Why or why not?
- What did you think of the character Henry? What purpose do you think he served for the novel?
- Did you feel Martel over explained his narrator’s thoughts and motivations? Why or why not?
- Do you think this book could be a valuable resource in discussing the Holocaust? Why or why not?
- What did you think of the character of the taxidermist? Did he feel like a real person or merely a storytelling device?
- What did you like about Beatrice and Virgil’s interactions? Which was your favorite dialogue between the two of them?
- Do you think Martel succeeded in combining an essay and a story into one novel? Why or why not?
- What was the moment in the book that stayed with you the longest?
- How would you compare Life of Pi to Beatrice and Virgil? What are their similarities? Differences?
- Rate Beatrice and Virgil 1 to 5.
