Evening Book Club: Book Club
Contact Information
For more information regarding the Evening Book Club, please contact: Jaclyn Gomez at jgomez@rcls.org
Meeting Schedule
Next Meeting:
June 23, 2025 at 7:00pm
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
- You meet three very different heroines in Lost Roses: Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka. With whom did you most identify and why?
- Mother-daughter relationships play a vital role in Lost Roses. How did these relationships impact Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka’s lives? Compare Eliza’s mother to Varinka’s. Were they both good mothers? In what ways? How did Sofya’s stepmother, Agnessa, affect Sofya and Luba emotionally? How did their mother’s legacy play a continuing role in their lives?
- Caroline Ferriday, the protagonist of Lilac Girls, is a teenager in Lost Roses. Eliza’s real-life relationship with her daughter Caroline evolves over the course of the book. What did you like/not like about their portrayal?
- Luba, whose name symbolizes love, is a key character in Lost Roses. Did you feel she was an important character in the story? What do you think of the author’s decision to open and close the novel with Luba’s voice?
- Sofya had to make some impossible choices in the novel—choosing to leave her family, and then her child, in order to try to save them. How did you feel about her decisions? Did you agree with them? Why or why not?
- Varinka and Taras have a complicated relationship. Did you find it compelling? Do you believe she loved Max? Why or why not? Were you shocked by the twist in her ending?
- How did you feel when Eliza had a second chance to experience love with Merrill? Did you believe in their friendship and then love affair?
- Were you satisfied with Sofya and Cook’s reunion? How do you imagine their relationship evolved after the novel ended?
- Is there a particular scene in Lost Roses that has stayed with you? What will you remember most about this novel?
- Did you learn new things about this period in history? Do you plan to read more—fiction or nonfiction—about the Russian Revolution?
Book Summary
Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly
It is 1914 and the world has been on the brink of war so many times, many New Yorkers treat the subject with only passing interest. Eliza Ferriday is thrilled to be traveling to St. Petersburg with Sofya Streshnayva, a cousin of the Romanov's. The two met years ago one summer in Paris and became close confidantes. Now Eliza embarks on the trip of a lifetime, home with Sofya to see the splendors of Russia. But when Austria declares war on Serbia and Russia's Imperial dynasty begins to fall, Eliza escapes back to America, while Sofya and her family flee to their country estate. In need of domestic help, they hire the local fortuneteller's daughter, Varinka, unknowingly bringing intense danger into their household. On the other side of the Atlantic, Eliza is doing her part to help the White Russian families find safety as they escape the revolution. But when Sofya's letters suddenly stop coming she fears the worst for her best friend.
From the turbulent streets of St. Petersburg to the avenues of Paris and the society of fallen Russian emigre's who live there, the lives of Eliza, Sofya, and Varinka will intersect in profound ways, taking readers on a breathtaking ride through a momentous time in history.
An interview with the author
A Conversation with the Author
Book Reviews
Reviews of our current book.
Click on the links to read the full review!
- The Book Gawker...As the follow up to Martha Hall Kelly's incredibly popular historical fiction novel, Lilac Girls, it's sure to be a hit with historical fiction lovers. And overall, I really enjoyed this book too. I am a lover of historical fiction and this book while not without its shortcomings (more on that in a minute) is a beautifully written and researched account of human resilience and love. For the most part it's well paced, the writing is digestible and overall the book is one that I'll remember. It would have been nearly perfect five star read if not for one little thing...
- The Bookish LibraMy love for Martha Hall Kelly’s style of storytelling has only grown with my reading of Lost Roses. The writing is exquisite, and I’m just constantly fascinated by the way she shows war from the perspective of women, which in most cases, is very different from what we’re used to seeing. In addition to being about war, Lost Roses is also a well-crafted, moving story of strength, determination, and friendship. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Lilac Girls, enjoys historical fiction in general, and especially to anyone who would like to know more about the Russian Revolution and the beginnings of WWI.
- Austen Prose...As a second novel, Lost Roses is a sparkling success. Many of her faithful readers will find the sweeping storyline and historical backdrop mesmerizing. Besides some uneven pacing, my one concern was for the characters. Caring about over-privileged Russian aristocrats and tony Americans on both sides of the pond is a daunting task that few could overcome—just think Dr. Zhivago meets The Age of Innocence. I never warmed to any of them, nor did I want to give them a hug—the sure-fire test of a winning story. More vodka while reading could be your solution to my lament.
The Author's Website
The author's website.
- Martha Hall KellyFor information on the author: back ground information, awards, bibliography, etc.