Although the novel has a central figure in Rebecca, Elizabeth Graver uses third-person omniscient narration to give insight into the inner experiences of people from multiple generations of the Cohen family. How does this authorial choice impact the characters’ development and the story’s overall meaning?

Identify the key historical events, family matters, and personal decisions that change the Cohens’ lives. How do the characters preserve their Sephardic culture amidst these changes?

Examine the protagonist’s complex relationship with her father. Why does she feel a combination of love and hatred toward him? Compare and contrast Rebecca’s and Alberto’s traits and character arcs, giving particular attention to their marriages, faith, and relationships with their children.