ICE Breakers
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
BOOK OF THE MOMENT
Emily Brontë’s novel was written under a male pseudonym, Ellis Bell and was not well received when first published. Whilst this was a common practice for female writers at this time, do you think readers would have been more shocked if they were to discover the author was a female? What does it tell you about the author?
What other famous love stories, if any did this remind you of? Romeo & Juliet?
Do you think Brontë’s choice of names was a deliberate devise by Brontë. How did it affect your reading of the story and the characters?
Did your reading or re-reading change your opinion of this iconic story?
If you have seen the film would you recommend the adaptation to ‘Wuthering Heights' fans?
What do you think Emily Brontë would make of the adaptation? And do you think Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are well cast for the characters of Catherine and Heathcliff.
What category do you this suits this novel best - a Victorian gothic romance, a revenge tragedy or maybe even a psychological thriller?
THE GIRLS OF SLENDER MEANS
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Did you enjoy the verses spread throughout the book and were you able to appreciate their connection to the story?
Why do you think all the girls loved Joanna Childe and what does she represent?
Why do you think the girls were drawn to Nicholas Farringdon more than any of the other male visitors?
Do you think this was a transience era for young single women?
What did you think of Spark’s style of writing?
One of the ladies’ mottos is “Poise is perfect, an equanimity of body and mind, complete composure whatever the social scene. Elegant dress, immaculate grooming, and perfect deportment all contribute to the attainment of self-confidence.” Do you think this statement is outdated or still has relevance?
Have you read ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ and if so, which did you prefer and why?
THE GOD OF THE WOODS
Liz Moore set her story in the Adirondacks because of her maternal ancestry. How important were her own experiences and appreciation of the land in the creating the backdrop to this thriller? What other places does it remind you of?
‘The God of the Woods’ continued to leave us with questions about the individual characters and their behaviours. Who did you least trust and who do you feel was being victimised?
The story is told from multiple viewpoints. Whose story seemed the most compelling and convincing?
Did you feel sorry for Alice and the women in this novel? And do you think Alice’s opportunities would have been very different in the modern world?
Generational wealth affected the decisions made by the Van Laar dynasty and those around them. Do you think the characters would have made better decisions without the reliance on the family hierarchy?
How does ’The God of the Woods’ compare with other crime thrillers?
Can you see this novel taking to the screen and who would you cast?
THE WILD CARD