ICE Breakers
YOU BE MOTHER
BOOK OF THE MOMENT
Did Abi's experiences as a new young mother relate to you? If you are a mother, how did your own early days of motherhood differ? Could you resonate with Abi and Stu's predictament?
Could you appreciate the relationship between Abi and Phil?
The Woolnough family are quite a force of nature – could you relate to them?
Do you think there is ever the perfect family?
How important is grief to the paths the key characters choose and the decisions they make?
Did you find the story believable, particularly towards the end?
If you have read ‘Sorrow and Bliss’ – how do you think the books compare?
THE GREEN ROAD
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Why did Rosaleen always walk away from difficult situations? Do you think she made a mistake marrying ‘beneath her’?
Why do you think Hanna and Constance had different roles in the family compared to that of Dan and Emmet? Did this seem fair and can you recognise this in your own family?
The narrative dips in and out into the family’s lives and the reader is encouraged to fill in the gaps of time? Did you feel connected to the characters and do you think this devise works?
Was there a sibling that you felt empathy with?
Were you able to recognise the children’s frustration with Rosaleen? And how important is nurture over nature - could their lives have been different?
Did you appreciate the significance of ‘Dark Rosaleen’ and James Clarence Mangan’s patriotic poem?
Did Enright’s writing style remind you of other Irish writers and if you have read other novels by the author, how does ‘The Green Road’ compare?
WHEN THE CRANES FLY SOUTH
The Penguin edition shares some discussion questions. Here are a few more from the Den:
To what extent did you and your book club relate to Bo’s story and situation?
The novel shines a light on individuals like Bo exploring the male perspective. Do you think his wife, Fredericka, would have been a better survivor of old age, if she had not suffered dementia?
Do you think it is harder for men to live alone or has society changed?
The novel is set in Sweden although it was easy to recognise very similar care practices existing in the most Western countries. Do you think the home care system can be improved?
Bo addresses Fredericka throughout the novel and she is constantly present. Was this an effective devise and how did it affect your views of Bo?
For dog lovers, how did you feel about the idea of rehoming? Could there have been a better solution?
What other novels did this book remind you of?
THE WILD CARD