We Must Not Think of Ourselves: A Novel

Comment on the title of the book. How does the title relate to each of the central themes of the book? Does it suggest any contradictory ideas in relation to these themes?

Although Adam is the protagonist of the book, he is somewhat removed from the events around him at times by his role as an observer and narrator. How does Grodstein achieve this perspective, and what effect does it have on the reading of the story?

What is the role of food in the novel? Choose several instances where food plays a key role in an event and discuss its significance.

Discuss the portrayal of German characters in the novel. Are they uniformly evil, or are there characters who exhibit nuance and compassion? What is the thematic significance of how these characters are portrayed?

Are there any clues that Emil knows about Sala’s affair with Adam? If so, why does he let it go on? If not, how does he manage to remain oblivious when they live in such close quarters?

Grodstein explores The Moral Complexities of Survival Under Oppression through a variety of different instances. Explore why Adam and Sala’s behavior goes unpunished while Szifra’s does not. Does Szifra’s fate stem from the community’s moral condemnation? Justify your response with the help of the text.

Comment on the symbolism present in Mariam’s story of Piotr and her father’s fish shop. Why is the shop’s new name significant, and how does it relate to the two men’s differing religious backgrounds? Why does Mariam eventually lose her taste for whitefish?

Ringelblum aspires to put together a multi-dimensional portrait of the Polish Jews through the Oneg Shabbat Archive. Is the project successful in doing so, within the context of the book? Illustrate why or why not using examples from the text.