Reading Group Guide

1. 'There they go, two clever women of sixty, making their way through the wet towards the car.' What do you think of this opening sentence? How does it help set the tone of the novel?

2. Reading in Bed is characterised by a very distinctive narrative voice. How would you describe it? Did you enjoy it?

3. Is Reading in Bed a sad novel, a funny novel, or a romantic novel, in your view?

4. Reading in Bed is not only about 'two clever women of sixty' - it's very much a book about the younger generation, too. How successfully do you think Sue Gee captures her younger characters, and how sympathetic did you feel towards them?

5. Sue Gee pays a great deal of attention to dialogue in Reading in Bed. What did you notice about the way she writes speech? Did this add to your enjoyment of the novel?

6. What does Maud's story contribute to the book?

7. For the majority of the novel, we view the character of Jeffrey from the outside, then suddenly, in a moment of crisis, Sue Gee allows us direct access to his thoughts and feelings. How did you feel about this sudden shift? Did it change your feelings about him?

8. Reading is something Dido and Georgia care about deeply, but it's a rather difficult activity to write about. How does Sue Gee tackle this problem, and what does her discussion of reading add to the novel? Did the novel remind you of any personal favourites, or provide you with any inspiration for future reading?