ICE Breakers
NORTH WOODS
BOOK OF THE MOMENT
Who were your favourite occupants of the house and why? And which is your favourite century and why?
Do you think the house was fated?
Do you think Mason sees the changing world as a bad thing, or as an inevitable cycle of life?
How did you find the changing style of writing and what impact does the inclusion of ballads/poems/references have to the stories?
Do you think Mason is touching on environmental issues when he points out the species of trees and birds which have become extinct?
Transience and permanence are strong themes of the book. Did it make you think in what ways we live on even after we’ve gone?
THE NICKEL BOYS
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
How did this book illuminate you to the way reform schools such as the fictional Nickel Academy operated in the South and the impact of Jim Crow’s laws?
Do you think Elwood was naïve? What drives him to never give up hope?
Do you think Elwood and Turner’s fates were inevitable?
Why do you think Whitehead puts Jaimie in the story?
What do you think made Turner change his mind and go with Elwood?
What did your book club think of the ending?
Whitehead wanted this book to be one of realism not fantasy - do you think he has achieved this?
THE VIRAGO BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP
Did you enjoy this alternative wild card read for your book club?
What did you think of Cooke's storytelling of her own friendships and did you wish like the Den to read more from her?
Which literary friendship chimed with you and your book club?
Did you learn anything new about friendships and did this book inspire you to be a better or even better friend?
Do you think some authors are more in tune with the nuances of female friendships?
Would you like Cooke to widen her remit for another 'book of friendship'? What direction would you suggest?
THE WILD CARD