The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel incorporates several recurring topics, including healing, knowledge, bravery, patience, grief, power, and magic. Which did you find the most important or meaningful, and why?

2. Which of the two storylines did you find the most engaging, suspenseful, or impactful?

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

1. Which of the two medical traditions discussed in the novel would you be more likely to trust? What do you think of Augusta’s work in the Epilogue?

2. Have you had an experience where your interpretation of an event turned out to be quite different from what actually happened? What led you to initially misinterpret the situation?

3. Do you agree with Augusta’s decision to use the elixir on Irving either in the past or present timelines?

4. Accidental events completely change the course of Augusta and Irving’s lives. Are there similar moments in your life that influenced your trajectory? Likewise, are there aspects about your environment as a child or young adult that permanently shaped you?

5. Esther observes that the male healer in her village was respected as the apothecary, while she was regarded as the witch.