The Secrets We Kept

What are the similarities between what Olga and Boris are going through and Irina and Sally’s arcs? Consider the narrative’s themes and symbols, and cite textual examples, when formulating your answer.

The author uses crossed-out names in the chapter titles. What effect does this have on the text? Does this stylistic choice inform or develop any of the novel’s key themes or symbols? How so?

Examine the use of poems and excerpts from Doctor Zhivago in this book. How do these passages inform the scene in which they occur? What is the significance of including these literary references in those moments?