What
do you think about the use of French words and phrases? Do they add to the
story or are they a distraction?
The
stories are told from different points of view; each character has a distinct
voice, but only Odille tells her stories in the first person. What does that
tell the reader about her?
How
does the author convey the atmosphere of a small French town more than one
hundred years ago?
The
problematic relationship between Gaston Lemonnier and the priest Père Michel is
a central element of the narrative. What does their conflict tell the reader
about wider attitudes to religion, love and forgiveness? Are there any changes
to these attitudes during the period covered by the stories?
What
do you think is the purpose of Part 3, ‘Afterwords’?
Which
character engages you the most? How does the author draw you into this
character?
Who
do you think changes the most?
Can
you describe the ways, both good and bad, that war changed the town and its
inhabitants?
If
there were to be a sequel to ‘Amelie at the Window’, whose story would you like
to follow? Why does the future of this person interest you?
Images
are a theme that runs through the book. Why do you think the author use this
theme and how effective is it in bringing the stories to life?
Some
of the central characters, for example Marcel Pichon, Raymond Fischer and Mère
Agnès, do not have their own stories. We find out about them through other
people. Does this literary device tell the reader enough about the person, or
would you prefer them to tell their own story?
