Skylark Book Club Questions
10 discussion questions for Skylark by Paula McLain.
October 18, 2026
Spoiler warning: some questions touch on how the book ends. Best read after you've finished it.
Discussion questions
- How do Alouette's dreams of artistic freedom shape her actions throughout her story in 1664?
- What role does the Salpêtrière asylum play in Alouette's transformation, and how does it affect her view of freedom?
- Was Kristof right to risk his career and safety by helping his Jewish neighbors during the German occupation?
- How does the setting of Paris, both above ground and underground, enhance the themes of the novel?
- What are the most striking similarities and differences between Alouette and Kristof's stories?
- Do you think Alouette's imprisonment was justified, and how does her response to it reflect on her character?
- How does the timeline structure, alternating between 1664 and 1939, impact the reader's understanding of the characters' journeys?
- In what ways do the friendships and alliances formed by Alouette and Kristof influence their stories and the novel's outcome?
- Did you find the ending satisfying in how it concluded the intertwined stories of Alouette and Kristof?
- Have you ever faced a situation where you felt compelled to stand up against injustice, similar to the characters in the book?
These questions were drafted with AI help for book clubs using Lapwing.
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