Divestment
by Helene Wecker
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New York Times best-selling author Helene Wecker (The Golem and the Jinni) brings us inside the disintegrating mind of a German-Jewish grandmother in this sometimes chilling, sometimes heartwarming, consistently riveting story.
When Gerda Kohl moves from the home in which she raised her family to a posh new retirement center, she must decide what to take with her and what to leave behind. This includes not only photographs, furniture, and mementos but weightier items, too - warring daughters, rebellious grandchildren, and the ghosts of a past that seems increasingly more real than the present.
Discussion questions for Divestment
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- 1
How does the physical act of sorting through a lifetime of belongings reflect Gerda’s internal process of losing her memories and sense of self?
- 2
In what ways does the title "Divestment" take on multiple meanings beyond the literal sorting and packing of Gerda's physical possessions?
- 3
Gerda’s past—marked by her experiences as a German-Jewish immigrant—feels increasingly more real to her than the present; how does Wecker use this blurring of timelines to explore the concept of generational trauma?
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