Questions About The Great Believers

by Rebecca Makkai (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (16)

This sounds like it would be a great film! I wonder if it will be turned into one?

Jack Amy Poehler has the rights and is thinking of making it into a series!

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Hanna F

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This question is probably obvious to most and possibly revealed in the afterwords (had to rush and return to library) but who are The Great Believers?

Eileen The author's full answer:
"The title is taken from an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote that serves as one of the novel’s epigraphs:

“We were the great believer…moreThe author's full answer:
"The title is taken from an F. Scott Fitzgerald quote that serves as one of the novel’s epigraphs:

“We were the great believers.
I have never cared for any men as much as for these who felt the first springs when I did, and saw death ahead, and were reprieved—and who now walk the long stormy summer.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald, “My Generation”

Fitzgerald is referring to the lost generation, and the quote struck me as so counterintuitive—we often think of that generation as jaded and worldly. The parallels between that generation and the generation we lost in the ’80s is something I explore in the novel. In particular, I was struck by the similarities between the way Paris was a refuge for so many misfit artists, and the role big American cities like Chicago have played for young LGBTQA+ people. The arts scene in Paris was interrupted by WWI and between the war and the influenza of 1918, a whole generation was decimated. I was particularly interested in those who regrouped in Paris after the war, who tried to recreate some of what had been lost. The lines we can draw between that time and the ’80s are fascinating to me."(less)

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First, I love this book. Question: Did I miss something about the paper clip in the Ranko self portrait? What was the significance of the paper clip?

Darlene When Nora first met Ranko, it was in a class, and Ranko was screwing around and he fashioned himself a crown made from paperclips. It took me a minute…moreWhen Nora first met Ranko, it was in a class, and Ranko was screwing around and he fashioned himself a crown made from paperclips. It took me a minute to remember. (less)

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Nina S In one of the more bizarre acts of selflessness (and actually pretty rare for Yale, who doesn't really meet the standards for that characteristic) Yal…moreIn one of the more bizarre acts of selflessness (and actually pretty rare for Yale, who doesn't really meet the standards for that characteristic) Yale, in gaining legal rights to the verylikely to be authentic original art collection of Nora, has also ruffled some MAJOR political feathers ofher family members who think it should've been an inheritance for themselves. Nora's son, Frank, then contacts a 'friend' who sits on the Board of directors for Northwestern University, and who then threatens to make life very difficult for Yale and Bill because of this. So Yale, who's still reeling from horrible news that dealt a death blow to his relationship with Charlie, tells his boss to "fire him"- sort of as being the 'sacrificial lamb' for the Board member's wrath to be assuaged. It's a truly strange thing for Yale to suggest, but he's saavy and it 'works' as Bill regretfully reports to Yale after he does this. That is the deal with that.(less)

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