The View From Lake Como

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did your understanding of the book’s title change as you read through the narrative? Were you surprised by how Jess’s experiences turned out?

2. How does this book compare to other works by Trigiani, such as All the Stars in the Heavens? Did you notice any similarities in terms of themes, characters, and/or plots?

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

1. Have you ever prioritized courage over conforming to others’ ideas about who or what you should be? How did it go? How did your experiences compare to Jess’s?

2. Does your family have any secrets that you’re aware of? How were they revealed to you? Were they damaging in any way? Why or why not?

3. Jess feels that her time in Italy enables her to “do-over” her life and find herself. Have you ever found a place that provided a similar opportunity in your own life? Share your experiences.

4. Philomena rails against the very patriarchal norms that her choice to prioritize Joe’s education upholds. This double standard is not lost on Jess. Have you ever come across any similar double standards in your family?

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

1. Jess not only contends with her family’s expectations, but must also grapple with her culture’s expectations as well. How typical is this in the 21st-century United States? How might expectations vary depending on the community?

2. Patriarchal roles and values often prevail in the novel. Are they overstated in terms of reality, or does their portrayal feel accurate?

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

1. How do both settings, in New Jersey and in Italy, contribute to the novel’s themes? How would the work vary if it were confined to just one of these settings?

2. How does Trigiani characterize Philomena and Joe Baratta Sr.? What situations does she create that reveal their respective characters, especially their values?

3. What do the part and chapter titles contribute to the text? Are they merely descriptive or do they offer some insight into the narrative?

4. Examine some of the narrative techniques used in the novel, such as the present-tense narration, the first-person narrator, and the way Jess’s journal entries appear periodically throughout the narrative. How do these narrative choices shape the novel’s handling of its characterization, key themes, or major plot points?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a Netflix series or movie, who would you cast as Jess, Phil, Bobby, and Angelo? Explain your choices.

2. Connie is the least well-developed Baratta. If Trigiani wrote a sequel—or a novel in a parallel timeline—what do you think Connie’s story would comprise?

3. Could you ever do what Jess did and suddenly decide that you were going to another country for an undetermined period of time? Explain where you would choose to go, what you would plan to do there, and what you would like to achieve.