Courtesy of the Literary Guild

1. Herculine and her mother have left home when her mother dies. Why do you think they left home? Do you think it was her mother's intention that Herculine be brought up at the convent at C--? If so, why do you think her mother wanted her raised there? If not, where do you think her mother planned to take her?
   
   
2. From the very beginning of the story Herculine feels that she is "different." The author gives many hints that she is a hermaphrodite. Was all the overshadowing necessary? Was it intrusive to you that the author kept bringing it up or do you think it was necessary to make the point? Is it realistic to think her "difference" would have been overlooked by the nuns when she was taken in by the convent at C--?
   
   
3. If Herculine hadn't been a hermaphrodite, would it have changed the story? In what ways? In an interview, the author says that he made the character a hermaphrodite in order to explore gender roles. Were gender roles fully explored? Is Herculine the hero or heroine of the book? Is there a difference?
   
   
4. In an interview with the author, he says that he took the name and his "primary metaphor" from Herculine Barbin, a 19th century French hermaphrodite. Does knowing this information change any part of the story for you? Would it have been helpful to know that before starting the book?
   
   
5. Herculine's story frames the stories of Father Louis, Madeleine, Asmodei and Sebastiana d'Azur and spans several centuries. Was that difficult to follow or did you enjoy the interweaving of the stories?
   
   
6. The character of Sabine Capeau was also "different." Compare her differences with Herculine's. How was each character affected by her difference?
   
   
7. Father Louis says "A promise to perform the impossible is not binding" several times in reference to his inability to be celibate as Catholic priests are required. What do you think about that statement?
   
   
8. Birds often appear out of nowhere in the book? What do they represent? What other symbols are used?
   
   
9. At her first dinner at Ravndal, Herculine is allowed to ask five questions. She asks: Will I die? What am I? Who or what are my saviors? Why had they rescued me? and How will I live? Would you have asked the same questions? What questions might you have asked instead?
   
   
10. Father Louis and Madeleine talk about reincarnation? Do you think reincarnation is possible?
    
    
11. Asmodei, Sebastiana, Madeleine and Father Louis think of themselves as family. "And, as is the nature of a family, my four saviors were not always near one another, but neither were they ever far apart." How do you define family? What makes a family?
    
    
12. Throughout the story, Herculine identifies herself as a woman, but towards the end of the book and when she travels to America she dresses and tries to act as a man. Do you think she will continue to dress and identify herself as a man once she establishes herself in America?
    
    
13. At the very end of the story, Herculine dumps Madeleine's bones and the bag of jewels from Sebastiana overboard keeping only one bangle bracelet. Why do you think she does this? Why does she choose to keep the bracelet?