ICE Breakers
THE PAPER PALACE
BOOK OF THE MOMENT
Do you believe it is possible to love two people? Do you think Elle’s continued love for Jonas is idealistic?
Do you think if, that El and Jonas didn’t share the secret, and had stayed together when they were young, that they would have ended up together forever?
Miranda Cowley Heller worked as Head of Drama at HBO for over a decade – could you see this story being made into a TV drama?
What did you think of Wallace? Do you think she was a bad mother?
What did you think of the ending? Did your book club agree on the ending?
Did you think Peter’s character was a bit cliched as an Englishman?
What does this story tell you about the legacy of tragedy?
THE BEEKEEPER OF ALEPPO
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Did reading this story help personal the refugee crisis for you and give you a more empathetic viewpoint?
Did the story enlighten you as to the dangers of making this journey?
Do you think both Nuri and Afra are suffering in different ways from post traumatic stress disorder? What stops them talking about their traumas?
Lefteri is the daughter of Cyrpiot refugees, how do you think this feeds into her writing?
What gives Nuri and Afra the strength to carry on?
Nuri's occupation as a beekeeper is an interesting choice – what did it add to the story?
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY
Zott is a difficult woman, extremely opinionated and outspoken and yet you still find yourself rooting for her. How do you think Garmus achieves this?
Why, when Zott is so sure of herself and clear of what makes the world go round, do you think she blames herself for Calvin’s death? Do you think her guilt over Calvin’s death was the turning point in her life?
Did you find some of the chemistry analysis of cooking useful yourself? Which ones in particular might you remember for the future?
Do you think men stealing women’s research in science still happens today or do you think equality in the field of science has now been achieved?
Zott says that atoms and molecules are the real rules that govern the physical world. When women understand these basic concepts, they begin to see the false limits that have been created for them. Zott says, “I mean by artificial cultural and religion policies that put men in the highly unnatural role of single-sex leadership. Even a basic understanding of chemistry reveals the danger of such a lopsided approach.” What do you think of this analysis?
Zott's view on religion is that it lets “people off the hook” because it teaches us that nothing is really our fault – do you think this is true?
THE WILD CARD