Discussion Questions

1. The author chooses to alternate narrators throughout each chapter. How does hearing the multiple perspectives of the characters help the reader get a better understanding of the plot? Why do you think the author chose to structure the story this way?

 

2. How believable are the characters? Which character do you identify with? In what ways did each character change throughout the story? What experiences in the course of the novel led to this change?

 

3. In the first sentence of the novel, Tsura thinks “They’ll never know we were here.” (1), and it is repeated again in the last sentence of the book (366). What is the significance of this quote, and why did the author choose to bookend the novel this way?

 

4. There are many examples of symbols in Train, such as trains. What are some other examples? What do these objects or actions really represent? How do characters react to and with these symbolic objects?  How do they represent characters, ideas, themes, and events within the story?

 

5. When Tsura finds out that Marko is gay, she calls him “sickening.” Why do you think she responds like this? Is it fair for her to respond like this? Why or why not? What does this tell you about the time they live in?

 

6. As we know, Viktor follows Elise throughout the book, always looking over her. Why do you think that the author chose to include Viktor in the story? What changes does Elise go through that cause her to not “need” Viktor anymore? Why would the author choose to write from Elise’s perspective instead of Viktor's? Do you consider Elise to be a sympathetic or unsympathetic character? What makes you say that?

 

7. Ruth spent most of the book trying to solve her birthday treasure hunt, and ultimately, she solves it. What does this hunt represent in the book? Why is Ruth upset after she finds her porcelain train? How might the novel's structure relate to a treasure hunt?

 

8. Based on what we know of Train's main characters, where could their stories go after the book ends? What is the future of these characters' lives? What makes you say that? How does considering their futures help you understand more about how real people adjusted to life after the war? What would make it necessary to trust people again?

 

9. What case could be made to suggest that Tsura is a hero? What case could be made to suggest that she is not? Which case is stronger?

 

10. What insight does the author give in this story? In other words, what are the enduring themes and lessons from Train? How is the theme revealed? (What do characters do or say that helps to illustrate this idea? What events take place that help to illustrate this idea? What motifs help develop the theme?)