Joan Leegant

WHEREVER YOU GO

A Novel from W.W. Norton

1.Several characters in the book embrace a cause-driven life: Dena Ben-Zion, her husband Aryeh, Naftali Shroeder, Aaron Blinder. What is behind each character’s dedication to their cause? What are the rewards of a cause-driven life as presented in the novel? What are the dangers? Conversely, Yona Stern wants to pursue her art and develop more satisfying personal relationships. Discuss the tension between these differing approaches: living for a cause, or living for one’s personal fulfillment.

2.The role of religion is explored through numerous story threads. For some people, such as Mark Greenglass, religion can be a life-affirming force; for others, such as Aaron Blinder, religion can justify violence. What do you think explains the different outcomes? Does it depend on the individual? On the type of religious practice or belief? On the community and its leaders?

3.The title WHEREVER YOU GO comes from the Book of Ruth. Look at the Biblical passage quoted at the beginning of the novel. How does this passage relate to the story? What do you think the title means in view of the characters and the events that transpire? Who is pledging loyalty to what, or to whom?

4.Aaron Blinder makes choices in this story that can be understood as immature and reckless at best, and as immoral and criminal at worst. Discuss who and what  contributed to his choices. Even if outside factors contributed, is there a point at which an individual bears sole responsibility for his actions?

5.Aaron’s father Emanuel Blinder makes his living writing popular but melodramatic novels about the Holocaust. What might the author be suggesting about the “use” of the Holocaust for literary or artistic purposes? Can remembering the Holocaust through art – film, fiction, theatre – spill over into exploitation? Does it depend on the quality of the work? The artist’s motives? The commercial value?

6.When the book opens, each of the main characters has a troubled relationship with a close family member: Greenglass and Aaron with their fathers, Yona with her sister. How do those relationships change by the end of the book? What makes for the possibility of forgiveness and reconciliation in a family, according to the story? What makes for a failure to reconcile and the inability to forgive?

7.Yona, by book’s end, has resolved to take her art seriously. Art appears elsewhere in the novel in the form of the Olive Branch College, a tranquil conservatory in Jerusalem where the students are dedicated to pursuing the arts but which becomes the target of sectarian violence. What might this suggest about the compatibility of art and religion, or art and politics? Pinchas Wasserman wonders aloud whether art can ever be divorced from all that is around it. Do you agree?

8.Mark Greenglass has lost his religious passion before the book opens. The flap copy asks: “Is he through with God? Is God through with him?” What do you think Greenglass’s spiritual feelings are by the end? What do you think happened to him during his ordeal that might influence these feelings? What do you think is his relationship with the Divine by the end of the book?

9.Dena makes a decision at the conclusion of the novel that dramatically affects the outcome. Why do you think she made that decision? What does it tell you about her?

10. One of the issues the book explores is the relationship between American Jews and Israel. In addition to the three main American characters, consider the visitors from Cleveland, Ben-Ami, Davidson, and Rachel Craft. How do these (North) Americans view Israel and Israelis? Why is each of them in Israel and what are they looking for? Similarly, how do the Israelis such as Shoeder, Eyal and Lior  view the Americans? How does this portrayal of the Israeli-American encounter differ from what you may have thought previously?

A READER’S GUIDE: SOME QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

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“This would be a fantastic novel for a book group or anyone who enjoys fiction that educates and enlightens (in a subtle way!). Lovely, moving, beautiful.” Unabridged Chick. Read here.

“Very compelling...Equal parts character and plot, it would make a great book club selection.” Boston Bibliophile. Read here.

“Wherever You Go” is a beautifully complex novel. A great pick for a book group because it gave me so much to think about.” Tiny Library. Read here.