All About Books discussion

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is a beautifully crafted historical novel inspired by the true story of the Sarajevo Haggadah—a rare, richly illustrated Jewish manuscript that has survived centuries of conflict, exile, and persecution. The story follows Australian rare book conservator Hanna Heath, who is called to examine the manuscript and discovers a series of tiny clues—an insect wing, a wine stain, a white hair—that hint at the people who created, protected, and risked their lives for it across the centuries.

Moving between modern-day Europe and key moments in history—Inquisition-era Spain, Nazi-occupied Sarajevo, and 15th-century Venice—the novel uncovers the lives of Muslims, Christians, and Jews who were all touched by the book in different, profound ways.

A powerful blend of mystery, history, and human resilience, People of the Book is ideal for readers who love stories about the survival of culture, the beauty of books, and the connections that bind us across time and place.

This is the spoilers thread. If you have not read the book or do not wish to see possible spoilers, please go here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

For those who have read People of the Book, I’d love to hear how the story resonated with you. The novel spans centuries, weaving together historical detail with a modern narrative — did this structure change how you experienced the story? Did it make you think differently about the relationship between history, memory, and objects?

1. How did you find the balance between the historical episodes and Hanna’s contemporary storyline?

2. Did any particular historical vignette stand out to you as especially powerful or memorable?

3. How did the book’s exploration of art, religion, and preservation influence your perspective on cultural heritage?

4. What did you make of Hanna as a protagonist — did you find her compelling, frustrating, or a mix of both?

5. Did the novel change the way you think about rare books, manuscripts, or the people who dedicate their lives to protecting them?

6. Overall, did the intertwining of fact and fiction enhance your enjoyment, or did it complicate your engagement with the story?

I loved this book, when I read it years ago.
I thought that it was a brilliant iedea to see the life of different people in different age and times by means of a siongle book... Something like this the italian writer Gian Marco Griffi has been doing with his latest work Digressione