In the Shadow of the Cathedral - Book Club Guide

World War II memoirs are a popular choice for book clubs. Here's one more that is not to be missed. Titia Bozuwa's In the Shadow of the Cathedral makes a good discussion topic for a book club. The very-readable memoir covers Titia's childhood memories of growing up in Holland during the Nazi Occupation.

On this page, you'll find some questions to get discussion started and some authentic Dutch recipes that can serve as a snack or luncheon for the club members.

There are some background videos to help the hostess prepare for the club meeting. She or he can give some historical background to the memoir as the group discusses it.

(Book cover for In The Shadow Of The Cathedral: Growing Up In Holland During WW II)

Titia Bozuwa

Titia Bozuwa emigrated to America after World War II from Holland. She lives in New Hampshire in a house that dates back to the 1700s. She has written four books and encouraged many other writers through her Twin Farms Writing Workshops.

Here the author holds her audience spellbound as she tells about her childhood experiences in Holland. She was speaking to retirees at the Lake Forest Resort in New Hampshire.

Photo by Virginia Allain.

Questions provided by Gail Snook. Our summer book club chose In the Shadow of the Cathedral for our July meeting. Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.

Since the author lived not far away, we invited her to speak on another occasion. We invited everyone in our small retirement community and served tea and desserts after her talk. It was well attended. The author was most informative, telling us about the occupation of Holland by the Germans and how it affected her as a little girl.

• How did you react to the fact the story was told from a child's point of view?
• Do you like books that are memoirs and not novels with a plot? Why / why not?
• How much of a person's character would you say is shaped by the times in which they live?
• How do you think Titia's character was affected growing up during the war in Holland ?
• What situation or scene impressed/affected you the most in this book?
• Is there any value in reading of a person's experiences in another period of history from our own? If so what? If not, why not?
• Compare the author's experience with the Germans and the different experience for the Jewish children in her town.
• How do you think people would react today if a foreign power occupied the U.S.? Talk about the secret ways the people resisted the occupation.

Here's the book online. It's conveniently available on Amazon so all the members of the book club can easily get a copy.

Buy it and read it for yourself if you want to preview the book before recommending it for your group. It contains awesome photos, too.

You might wonder what food from Holland you can serve to your friends at the book club meeting. As you read the book, keep alert for mentions of food. You can serve those to the group. If you need more ideas, here are my suggestions:

Of course, the Dutch are noted for their cheese-making, so a selection of cheeses like the ones shown would be appropriate. You can get Dutch crackers as well to serve with the cheese.

Some book clubs have a lovely lunch with their book discussions. Others provide appetizers or dessert.

Here are some suggestions for what to serve your book club when you meet to talk about In the Shadow of the Cathedral.

One luncheon that Titia served for the Twin Farms Writer's Workshop was a refreshing Dutch salad with apple slices and beets. This would be a light lunch for the book club on the day that they discuss In the Shadow of the Cathedral.

You can buy these (see below) or make them yourself. Here's the recipe for stroopwaffels.

Any bulbs like crocus, daffodils or Dutch iris will look lovely on the table where you gather to discuss your favorite books.. If fresh flowers are too expensive, you can get lovely silk tulips. Save these to use each spring for years to come.

Photo by Virginia Allain.

Here are some amazing tulip bouquets that will look lovely on your book club table, and can be easily switched out and used for other occasions, as well.

The memoir starts with Titia's memories of the arrival of the Germans in her town.

These videos show the Nazi invasion of Holland in WWII and how it affected the Dutch.

You can email links for these videos to your group members so they can have some background knowledge before reading the book.

Book club magnets available from Zazzle: I Love My Bookclub by booklovergifts

This photo shows vintage wooden shoes from Holland that the author has on display in her home.

Photo by Virginia Allain.

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