Questions for: Dancing with my Father
Jo Sorochinsky
- What were your overall impressions of the book?
- What surprised you most about Ans's story?
- What emotions did the memoir leave you with?
- Jo believes that understanding her father's past is essential to understanding herself. Do you agree that our parents' histories shape our own identities?
- Why do you think Ans resisted sharing his story for so many years?
- How did growing up with family secrets affect Jo's childhood and adulthood?
- Were there moments when you sympathized more with Jo than with her father—or vice versa?
- How did silence function as both a form of protection and a source of pain?
- Do you think there are circumstances where keeping painful family history private is justified?
- How did learning about Vienna before and during Nazi rule deepen your understanding of Ans's experiences?
- What did the memoir teach you about the impact of the Holocaust beyond those who experienced it directly?
- How does this personal story make history feel different from reading a textbook?
- How would you describe the relationship between Jo and her father? How did it evolve over time?
- What role did Jo's mother play in protecting—or preserving—the family's silence?
- Which relationship in the book did you find most compelling, and why?
- Do you think Ans ever truly found peace with his past?
- What does forgiveness mean in the context of this memoir? Is forgiveness always necessary for healing?
- How did writing the book appear to change Jo's relationship with her father?
- How effective was Sorochinsky's blend of memoir, family history, and historical research?
- Were there passages or scenes that stood out to you as particularly powerful?
- Did the book make you think differently about your own family history or the stories that have—or haven't—been shared?