72 pages • 2-hour read
The Great Believers
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Book Club Questions
General Impressions
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness, death, and antigay bias.
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. The Great Believers opens with a celebration of life rather than a traditional funeral for Nico. How did this opening scene set the tone for the rest of the novel? What expectations did it create?
2. How does this novel compare to other works about the AIDS crisis, such as Tony Kushner’s Angels in America? What unique perspective does Makkai bring to this historical period?
3. What was your emotional response to the parallel narratives between 1980s Chicago and 2015 Paris? How effectively did these timelines complement each other?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.
1. The novel explores the concept of “chosen family” versus biological family. Have you experienced or witnessed similar dynamics in your own life?
2. Yale and Fiona both struggle with survivor’s guilt in different ways. How do you process feelings of guilt about circumstances beyond your control?
3. Characters often find meaning in objects left behind by loved ones. What objects in your life hold similar emotional significance?
4. How did the book’s exploration of art as memorial resonate with you? What role do photographs and artwork play in preserving your own memories?
5. The characters frequently revisit specific locations that trigger powerful memories. What places in your life hold similar emotional weight?
Societal and Cultural Context
Examine the book’s relevance to broader societal issues, cultural trends, and ethical dilemmas.
1. How does the novel’s portrayal of the AIDS crisis challenge or confirm your understanding of this period in history? How does it compare to nonfiction treatments of the same era—e.g., Randy Shilts’s And the Band Played On? What parallels do you see between the societal response to AIDS in the 1980s and current (or more recent) public health crises?
2. How does the novel address the intersection of art, activism, and memory in preserving marginalized histories?
Literary Analysis
Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and use of narrative techniques.
1. How does Makkai use the parallel narratives of Nora’s Lost Generation and Yale’s generation to explore themes of historical repetition?
2. Analyze the symbolism of “home” throughout the novel. How does Yale’s search for a physical home reflect deeper emotional needs?
3. What role does shame play in driving character decisions, particularly in Charlie’s arc?
4. How does the author use art and photography as both plot devices and metaphors throughout the novel?
5. Examine the significance of the novel’s title in relation to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quote about “the great believers.” How does this frame your understanding of the story?
Creative Engagement
Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book’s content and themes.
1. If you were curating an exhibition like Richard’s memorial show, what moments or images from your own life would you include to tell your story?
2. Imagine writing a letter to one of the characters 30 years after the events of the novel. What would you say to them?
3. If you could preserve one day from your life in perfect detail for future generations, which day would you choose, and why?
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