'The Painter from Shanghai' by Jennifer Cody Epstein - Book Club Questions

The Painter from Shanghai, from first-time novelist Jennifer Cody Epstein, tells the fictionalized story of Pan Yuliang, a real woman who was one of the most prominent -- and controversial -- painters of the 20th century. Use these book club discussion questions on The Painter from Shanghai to lead your book club into the novel.

Spoiler Warning: These book club discussion questions reveal important details about The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein. Finish the book before reading on.

1. Had you heard of the painter Pan Yuliang? Did reading this book inspire you to look for any of her paintings?

2. Did you feel sympathetic for Guanyin, Pan Zanhua’s first wife?

3. Do you understand why Yuliang’s painting was so controversial? Do you think her painting was more or less scandalous than her past as a prostitute?

4. Why did Cody Epstein choose to open the novel with the scene of Yuliang painting in Paris, late in her life?

5. Rate The Painter from Shanghai on a scale of 1 to 5.