Book Club Questions for I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon

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Despite knowing the subject matter, there are still plenty of twists and turns in I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon. The book is told from two perspectives: Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson. Even if you know the history behind this story, there are still surprises. The following book club questions will have spoilers so if you haven’t read the novel yet, check out my preview and review first.

Thanks to DNA testing, we know that Anna Anderson was not in fact Anastasia Romanov. In 2007, the remaining Romanovs’ bones were found, finally ending the mystery if a member of the family survived the 1918 execution.

However, Lawhon breathes new life into both stories in I Was Anastasia. The attention to detail in both storylines is riveting and vivid. I found myself question what I knew about the history several times throughout the book. And that climax is a wild ride that leaves to a sad conclusion. There’s plenty to talk about with this one.

Book Club Questions for I Was Anastasia

First, how much did you know about Anastasia? What about Anna Anderson? If you knew about the history, how did that impact Anna’s storyline for you? Did you learn anything new from the novel?
While Anastasia’s story is told chronically, Anna’s story is told in reverse. What did you think of this story choice? Do you like the tactic to tell Anna’s story in reverse so the two stories will come together, or was it confusing?
Which storyline were you more engaged with? Why?
Did you see any similarities in personality between Anastasia and Anna?
Did you believe at any point Anna was Anastasia? Why?
What did you think about the ending? How did it make you feel?
Why do you think there were rumors that one of the Romanovs survived?
In your opinion, why did Anna Anderson keep up this facade for 50 years? Do you believe she was suffering from mental illness or was she selfish and wanting attention?
Why do you think so many people who know Anastasia believed Anna?
Anastasia experiences love while held captive. What did you think of her interactions with Tomas?
Anna, on the hand, seems incapable of love, even if she has some affection for Gleb. Why do you think that is?
A major theme of this novel is the nature of identity, what does the concept ‘identity’ mean to you?
What do you think the title, I Was Anastasia, represents?