The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Marjorie’s involvement in business and politics develops the theme of women’s roles in a male-dominated society, and her work helps to shift society’s attitudes about women’s capabilities. Who are some women who inspire you, especially in your chosen career or favorite academic field, and what do you admire about them?

2. To utilize her business acumen, Marjorie must contend with the sexist view that women belong in the domestic sphere. Could you relate to her struggle? How much influence do you think such gender norms still hold?

3. Marjorie’s vast wealth offers her an escape from reality and shelters her from the effects of the Great Depression and both World Wars. How does her socioeconomic status affect your sympathy for and ability to relate to the character? 

4. Marjorie uses her fortune to fund charitable causes, such as soup kitchens. What are some social issues and causes that are important to you, and how do you put your values into practice?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. To this day, many industries remain male-dominated. How might Marjorie’s story resonate with those engaged in the ongoing fight for women’s rights and economic opportunities?

2. What does the novel have to say about the societal pressures of living in the public eye and the way the media uses famous figures’ personal lives as fodder for journalists? Do you think the pressure on celebrities has increased since Marjorie’s time? If so, what forces have contributed to this change?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does Marjorie use traditionally feminine skills, such as designing domestic spaces and hosting events, to wield political and social power? How do her efforts challenge misogyny and advance the greater good?

2. Compare and contrast Marjorie’s husbands and the reasons why their relationships with her ended. How do her marriages illustrate her shifting relationships with herself and societal expectations?

3. How does public scrutiny about Marjorie and her marriages reflect her society’s attitude toward women? How does Marjorie attempt to mitigate the effects of living in the public eye, and to what extent does she succeed?

4. How does Pataki’s decision to begin and end the book with the protagonist as an autonomous single woman impact the novel’s overall meaning? How do the last names Marjorie uses over the course of the novel reflect shifts in her identity, and what is the significance of her reclaiming the name “Post”?

5. How do the homes Marjorie builds function as both settings and extensions of her character? Select a few locations and discuss what they reveal about the protagonist and her legacy.