Woman on Fire

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of addiction and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The art world in Woman on Fire is portrayed as glamorous yet cutthroat. Discuss your reaction to this depiction. Did it align with your previous understanding of the high-end art market?

2. What aspect of the storytelling—the historical injustice, artistic passion, or contemporary thriller elements—did you find most compelling in the novel, and why?

3. Woman on Fire explores themes of art theft and historical justice similar to those in Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch. How do these novels—or others that explore similar themes—differ in their portrayal of why art matters to individuals and societies?

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

1. Jules breaks her personal rule about getting involved with someone she works with when she falls for Adam. Have you ever established a boundary for yourself and then found compelling reasons to cross it?

2. If someone were to create an item that symbolizes your character, like Ellis designed “The Jules” shoe, what would it be and what qualities would it reflect?

3. The painting at the center of the novel holds different emotional significance for each character. Share an object from your life that connects you to your history or a loved one in a similarly powerful way.

4. When have you faced a dilemma between ethical principles and ambitious goals similar to those the characters encounter throughout the novel?

5. Adam makes the difficult choice to isolate himself in Montana to recover from addiction before eventually returning to the art world. Reflect on a time you needed to step away from something you loved to heal or reset.

6. Has collaborating with a family member on a challenging task ever transformed your relationship with them, as it does for Jules and her mother during the investigation?

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

1. The novel centers on the ongoing challenge of returning Nazi-looted art to rightful owners. How effective do you think real-world efforts have been in addressing this particular historical injustice?

2. How does the portrayal of investigative journalism and its ethical boundaries in the novel compare to what we see in today’s media landscape?

3. In Woman on Fire, art possesses cultural, emotional, and monetary values that often conflict with each other. How do these different values create tension in our society today?

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

1. What significance does the painting “Woman on Fire” hold as the novel’s central symbol, and how does its meaning evolve throughout the story?

2. How does Barr use Margaux and Jules as foils for each other to highlight different approaches to ambition and success?

3. The author uses multiple perspectives and timeline jumps to build suspense in the narrative. At what points did you find this approach most effective in heightening tension?

4. Flashbacks to Nazi Germany provide historical context for the modern-day plot. How do these historical sections deepen the emotional stakes of the contemporary investigation?

5. The motif of fire appears throughout the novel, from the painting’s title to Ellis’s shoe design for Jules. What different meanings does this symbolism take on as the story progresses?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to design a painting titled “Woman on Fire” that captured the essence of Jules at the end of the novel, what elements would you include?

2. Imagine creating a new character who enters this story after the events of the novel—who would they be and how might they change the existing dynamics?

3. The novel ends with Jules having succeeded in her first major investigation while losing her mentor Dan. Draft a brief synopsis of what you imagine her next investigative case might be.

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