“The Oppenheimer triplets…had been in full flight from one another as far back as their ancestral petri dish. Not one of the three—Harrison (the smart one), Lewyn (the weird one), or Sally (the girl)—had a speck of genuine affection for either of the other, or had ever thought of a sister or a brother with anything resembling a sibling bond….

A lingering discontent overhung each of the three, and had since they were old enough to glean their shared origin story, judge their parents, and basically make up their minds about the other two.”—The Latecomer

New York Times best-selling author Jean Hanff Korelitz’s recent book, The Latecomer, is the story of the dysfunctional Oppenheimers, a wealthy New York Jewish family struggling under the weight of secrets. Witty, thought-provoking and multifaceted, The Latecomer explores betrayal and sexuality, religion and art, sibling bonds and rivalry—but most of all it is an examination of what makes a family. Genes, birth, cohabitation? Or is it love?

Local book groups are a vital part of Hadassah for many members. If your chapter doesn’t already have one, now’s the time to start! We encourage groups to have their own discussions about The Latecomer before or after watching the virtual interview with the author. To facilitate those discussions, we present the following discussion guide.

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1. The Latecomer opens with a funeral for the victims of a devastating car accident. How does Salo Oppenheimer, the driver of the car, react to the accident and its aftermath? Describe how the guilt from the accident shapes his life as well as the lives of his wife and children. Why do you think he won’t open up about the accident with his wife and children?

 

2. Discuss Johanna and Salo Oppenheimer’s marriage, including Johanna’s struggles with infertility and IVF journey as well as her high-risk pregnancy with the triplets. What do you think of Johanna’s “great purpose” in the marriage? The book describes her as an involved, loving mother, yet her children fault her for not seeing or meeting their individual needs. What do you think of their assessment of her parenting? Is Salo equally blamed for not meeting his children’s needs? What do you think about Johanna’s decision to have a late-in-life child, after the triplets are in college?

 

3. Descriptions of fine art run throughout The Latecomer. Indeed, a number of turning points in the story are connected in some way to art. Discuss how the different generations of Oppenheimers appreciate and/or collect art. Many of the paintings described in the book are real. Google the artworks and artists mentioned; why do you think these artists and pieces captivate Salo? Why does Salo keep his art collection hidden from his family? Other types of collections are noted in the book, including furniture and family photos. What is the author saying about the act of ownership and collecting?

 

4. What does the story of Judd Suss/Joseph Oppenheimer represent to the Oppenheimers? Why is the tale of Salo’s persecuted ancestor repeated in the book?

 

5. Author Jean Hanff Korelitz never explicitly gives a cause for the dislike that triplets Harrison, Sally and Lewyn have for each other. Based on your reading, what do you see as the source of their antipathy? Do you relate to the sibling dynamics in the book? What do you think of the triplets? Do you find any of the characters in the book likeable?

 

6. The Latecomer is narrated by one of the Oppenheimer siblings who forthrightly describes her parents’ relationships, her siblings’ contempt for each other as well as the many family secrets. Do you think she is a reliable narrator? Why or why not?

 

7. What role does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have in Lewyn’s life and quest for spirituality? What do you think Korelitz is saying about the connection between art and religion in her character’s appreciation for Mormon pageantry and imagery? How do the Oppenheimer siblings relate to their own Jewish culture and religion?<

 

8. Sally shows both attraction to and expertise in minimalism. What does her career choice to become a “finder”—decluttering houses to uncover valuable furniture—say about her? What role does hoarding play in her life? Is the author creating a connection between collecting and hoarding? Why is Sally unable to face her own sexual orientation, one of many secrets in the book?

 

9. Discuss the educational systems described in the novel. How does inherited wealth and privilege impact the Oppenheimers’ educational choices? Do you think Harrison is correct in his criticism of his progressive prep school as well as the “typical” college experience? What about his experiences and friendships at the conservative Roarke institution? Why isn’t he as critical of them? What do you think about Phoebe’s decision to attend Roarke?

 

10. What is the significance of Phoebe’s stated discomfort with not being born at the same time as her siblings? Do you agree that she was “left behind,” or is she better off than the rest of her siblings? How does the family dynamic change with the discovery of another Oppenheimer sibling?

 

11. Did the conclusion of Salo’s story come as a shock? How was it foreshadowed earlier in the book? Given his treatment of his wife and family as well as his actions at the triplets’ cataclysmic birthday party, did he “deserve” that ending?

 

12. Describe the impact of the Oppenheimer family reunion on the siblings as well as on Johanna. After nearly a lifetime of pain and betrayal, are Johanna’s healing and self-knowledge plausible? What do you think about her reaction to her husband’s long-time mistress and their son. What do you think of Phoebe’s quest to bring all the family, particularly her siblings, together?