READERS GUIDE
In the Shadow of the Greenbrier Discussion Guide1. In the Shadow of the Greenbrier is set in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, home to the opulent Greenbrier hotel. What did you learn about this place from your read?
2. The Zelners are the only Jewish family in White Sulphur Springs. Based on each Zelner’s perspective, how does each family member feel about this fact? Discuss why Sylvia often finds herself at odds with the rest of the family.
3. Teenaged Doree is enamored by love, infatuated with boys, and desires social inclusion. What do her interactions with her peers, and particularly Tony and Patty, indicate about her worldview and self-perception? How are these beliefs carried through generations?
4. In the Shadow of the Greenbrier is both a multigenerational family saga and a complicated mother-daughter story. Compare and contrast Doree’s respective relationships with Sylvia and Jessica. To what extent does Doree change as her role evolves from daughter to mother? How do the female characters’ relationships differ from those of the men and boys in the story?
5. Sylvia and Pauline get married for security, while Doree aspires for both love and marriage. To what extent does author Emily Matchar depict love as separate from marriage?
6. Sylvia finds comfort in Jack’s presence—a relief from the day-to-day burdens she’s too used to carrying. What does Jack represent to Sylvia? Do you see the appeal of the relationship?
7. At one point in the novel, Sol tells Doree “If only they could see the sweet girl inside,” referring to Sylvia. Why do you think Sol sees Sylvia’s sweet side?
8. Tony offers Doree more than just a summer fascination. In what ways does Tony challenge Doree’s points of view? How do you think Doree’s life would be different if she’d never met Tony?
9. At almost eighteen, Doree finds herself in a predicament, keeping a family secret safe. How would you have navigated the situation? How does Doree carry this experience into adulthood? In what ways does the story echo the past?
10. The Zelners harbor many secrets. Have you ever stumbled upon a family secret of your own? How did you react? How did it alter the way you viewed family?
11. In the Shadow of the Greenbrier is written in the perspectives of four generations. Whose story spoke to you most, and why? How does the story’s structure help you understand how the family members relate to each other? What themes are carried through all the time lines?
12. Despite the novel’s domestic focus, Matcher doesn’t shy away from the gravity of the wartime backdrop. Have you read other novels about the home front during World War II? What themes arose, differing from novels set overseas at the same time?
13. Alan is a significant character in the novel, yet he doesn’t narrate his own perspective. Discuss the impact of his limited presence on the page, and the role he plays in the Zelners’ understanding of family and themselves.
14. Jordan and Jessica’s generation allows them to offer their family history the most modern viewpoints. In what ways did their perspectives at any point in the story fail to align with what you deem “modern”? How are Jordan and Jessica’s views of their family similar or different?
