Reading Circle

Reading Group Discussion Guide

Would you have wanted to go west if you were Rebecca?
What was the most moving scene in A SMALL PART OF HISTORY for you?
Do you think Rebecca could have done anything to improve her relationship with Sarah earlier in the novel?
At what point do you think Sarah and Rebecca bonded properly for the first time?
The author uses a combination of narrative, recipes and diary entries to tell her story – did you think this worked? Can you think of other novels where the author has also chosen to do this?
Do you think Rebecca would have been content in Oregon if she’d survived the journey?
Were you surprised by the extent to which the women continued to adhere to traditional societal mores on the trail?
‘If women were allowed the decisions, they would never be separated from their families.’ Discuss.
Do you think Rebecca and John have a good marriage?
Does John’s relationship with Sarah differ to that of his relationship with his sons?
Discuss the role of religion in A SMALL PART OF HISTORY