Rouge: A Novel

How is envy portrayed in the novel? How does it relate to the novel’s theme of The Insidious Nature of the Beauty Industry?

The novel includes several references to religion, including Grand-Maman’s Catholicism, descriptions of exfoliation in which skin goes an “unholy red” (27), and parapraxis of “sin” instead of “skin.” What is the significance of religious allusions in the text? How does it relate to the novel’s themes?

Do roses function as a symbol or motif in the novel? How do they relate to the novel’s tone and themes?

What role does Mira’s father play in the narrative? How does her paternity relate to Mira’s self-esteem? What textual evidence supports this?

What is the significance of the fact that both Mira and Noelle work in dress shops? How does Awad represent the fashion industry in the novel?

Awad’s character names are often meaningful. How do names like Mirabelle Nour, Noelle Des Jardins, and Hud Hudson relate to the characters? How do they relate to the tone of the novel?

What is the significance of Seth appearing to Mira as Tom Cruise? How does the allusion to a real figure of popular culture relate to the novel’s tone and verisimilitude?

Rouge uses “journey” as a euphemism to refer to the treatment progression. How do travel and journeys relate to the themes of the novel?