Literally Leander discussion

Our featured book this month was Roman and Jewel by Dana L. Davis. Be aware of spoilers in this thread!

This month, our discussion prompts were written by a staff member. Please use them if you need them; otherwise, we'd love to see anything you have to say about this book!

1. What did you think about the romance between Jerzie and Zeppelin? Was it realistic?

2. Roman and Jewel is a modern Broadway retelling of Romeo and Juliet within a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Which retelling did you find more compelling? Why do you think Davis chose to tell the story this way?

3. Describe Cinny. How did her character evolve over the course of the novel?

4. Aunt Karla said, "'. . . Generations of chaos can spring from hate.'" What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree with Jerzie's claim that the quote is about perception?

5. Were you satisfied with the novel's conclusion?

1. What did you think about the romance between Jerzie and Zeppelin? Was it realistic?
I did not like the romance between Jerzie and Zeppelin. The insta-love did not seem realistic to me. Jerzie's mother and Robbie were also hesitant to believe the romance was insta-love as shown by them questioned how long the teenagers had been acquainted. The age gap between the teenagers also made me uncomfortable.

2.Roman and Jewel is a modern Broadway retelling of Romeo and Juliet within a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Which retelling did you find more compelling? Why do you think Davis chose to tell the story this way?
I found the modern retelling more compelling than the modern Broadway retelling. I had trouble following along with the plot of the modern Broadway retelling.

I read a middle grade Romeo and Juliet retelling called Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee several years ago. In the book, the protagonist prepared to perform Shakespeare's play and found that the play's plot and themes had some correlation to events in her own life.

One major theme in Romeo and Juliet is the difference between appearance and reality. Jerzie spent a lot of time thinking about perception and Aunt Karla'a quote (see question #4). I believe that Davis, like Dee, used the two Shakespeare stories in the plot to focus on similar themes between the characters' lives and the musical/play they were performing.

5. Were you satisfied with the novel's conclusion?
No, I thought it was wrapped up too tidily and seemed unrealistic.