Same As It Ever Was: A Novel

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

1. Julia struggles to reconcile her personal identity with her role as a mother, often feeling that motherhood has subsumed her sense of self. In what ways have you experienced similar tensions between your various roles and your personal identity?

2. Mark and Julia’s marriage evolves significantly over their decades together, experiencing both periods of distance and renewed connection. What resonated with you about their relationship, and how does it compare to long-term relationships you’ve witnessed or experienced?

3. Music is an important motif throughout the novel as Julia shares her musical tastes with her children and uses music as a way to express her identity. What role has music played in your life transitions, and have you passed on cultural touchstones to others in your life?

4. Julia’s relationship with her mother, Anita, undergoes significant transformation throughout her life. How does this mother-daughter dynamic compare to your experiences with family relationships and how they evolve over time?

5. The novel portrays Julia’s experience of her children growing up and becoming independent as both painful and fulfilling. How does this emotional journey for her relate to transitions you’ve navigated in your life?

6. Julia frequently judges herself harshly and assumes that others view her negatively. In what ways do you relate to Julia’s self-deprecating tendencies? Have you observed similar disconnections between self-perception and reality in your life? If so, how?

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

1. The novel contrasts different generations of motherhood through Julia, her mother (Anita), and her future daughter-in-law (Sunny). How do these portrayals reflect changing societal expectations of mothers across different eras?

2. Class differences and socioeconomic status affect multiple relationships in the novel. For example, Julia feels alienated at her private high school and experiences discomfort regarding Brady and Francine’s wealth. How does Lombardo address class divisions in American suburbs, and what commentary does the novel offer on social mobility?

3. Same as It Ever Was explores traditional gender roles within marriage, particularly in how Julia and Mark divide domestic and professional responsibilities. How do these gendered expectations compare to contemporary attitudes toward marriage and parenting roles?

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

1. The novel frequently references Virginia Woolf’s work, particularly Mrs. Dalloway. Julia even quotes a variation of the first line of Mrs. Dalloway: “I will buy the flowers myself” (410). In what ways does Lombardo’s use of these literary allusions help deepen readers’ understanding of Julia’s character and the novel’s themes?

2. Flowers are a significant symbol throughout the novel, from Julia and Helen’s first meeting at the botanical garden to Julia’s bringing Helen poppies before Ben’s wedding. What do flowers represent at different points in the story, and how does this symbolism connect to Julia’s growth?

3. The novel uses third-person limited narration filtered entirely through Julia’s perspective. How does this narrative choice affect readers’ understanding of other characters, particularly Mark, Ben, and Alma? What moments reveal the potential unreliability of Julia’s viewpoint?

4. The novel’s timeline jumps among four different periods in Julia’s life. How do these different periods inform one another, and what purpose does this structure serve in developing the novel’s themes about identity and change over time?

5. Driving is a recurring motif and metaphor throughout the novel. How does this symbolism evolve from Julia’s driving her young children around to Alma’s taking the wheel on their return from college visits? What does this progression suggest about control and agency?

6. Music references appear throughout the novel, including each part being titled after a song that connects to its themes. How do these musical references contribute to the novel’s emotional landscape and reflect Julia’s internal state at different points in her life?