BOOK CLUB KIT
Discussion Questions for
THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH E Imagine life in the 1930s—there is the Great Depression yet also the rise of what we now know as Glam Hollywood. Why do you think people facing daily, real life struggles were so captivated by the films of that era?
E Today many people are still attracted to the films of the 1930s. Even if they don’t watch a lot of old movies, they are familiar with the names of the stars, and they know some of the Hollywood legends of the period. What is the draw of vintage films?
E Irene is a reporter, diving in to get the latest scoop on the hottest movie stars. In the 1930s, the public was fascinated with that kind of “news.” Things have not changed very much. What is the appeal of celebrity gossip?
E The magician, Oliver, keeps a secret very close to him. Why do you think he did not divulge it, even though it involved an attempt on his life? How does Irene respond when she discovers the reason Oliver kept the secret? How does it affect their relationship?
E The atmosphere of the 1930s life is well-documented in The Girl Who Knew Too Much—were you surprised by any of the fashions, cars, or food that were mentioned in the book that you didn’t know began in that era?
E One of the themes of the story is the allure that California held for people living elsewhere in the country during the 1930s. Why do you think that state in particular captured the imagination of the public?
E Irene and Oliver are both in the process of starting over, yet neither can entirely escape the past. What is the appeal of characters who set out to reinvent themselves?
WELCOME t o MY NEW WORLD by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as
AMANDA QUICK I’m new here, myself, but all I can say is, where have the 1930s been all of my life? Okay, I know the answer is, “right before the 1940s,” but, hey, give me a break. I’m excited as only an author can get excited when she finds the perfect fictional landscape for her kind of story. It’s not just the time period that feels so right for my characters and plots. It’s the location: the California coast. I think it’s fair to say that Hollywood helped invent the lively mix of suspense and romance that is uniquely American in style. The films of the 1930s are anchored with archetypes that we respond to because they affirm our culture’s most deeply held core values: courage, honor, determination, the ability to love, and, above all, an abiding sense of optimism about the future. We are drawn to heroes and heroines who, however flawed or troubled, can be counted on to do the right thing when crunch time arrives. We want stories of relationships built on bonds of trust and friendship and family—not social status. We admire self-made characters and people who have the willpower it takes to reinvent themselves when necessary. The 1930s California landscape turned out to be the perfect setting for a gutsy female reporter with a mysterious past, an ex-magician who was nearly killed in his final performance, a quirky inventor, a missing notebook, some classic cocktails, and, oh, yeah, a contract killer. Add the glamorous veneer of Hollywood, and what could possibly go wrong? Let me tell you a story . . .
Take a look at these two menus from the 1930’s. Do they differ from the menus we use today? How much do they differ? Talk about what people ate back then. Compare what the diners in the Biltmore Hotel were eating to what people in other parts of the country were eating. What do you think accounted for the rise in junk food? Are these patterns true of today’s world?