Reading Circle

Reading Group Questions

The seven aspiring writers in the novel each have very different styles. Which writer’s work did you enjoy reading the most and why?
What kind of effect did Matt’s perspective – in particular, his writing – have on the story?
The author includes two unconventional love stories in her novel; that of Mary and Aldo, and that of Fabio and Matt. What did you think of each relationship, and how well did you think Domenica de Rosa handled them?
‘Plot is crap. Plot is not life. Plot is full of coincidence; life isn’t…What I want you all to do is try and free yourself from plot. Write something stream of consciousness, go with the flow. And, for heaven’s sake, avoid happy endings’. Jeremy advises his class to dispense with plot devices, and avoid happy endings. To what extent do you think Domenica de Rosa ignores Jeremy’s advice when writing her own book, and what kind of effect does this have?
Domenica de Rosa allows the reader to understand each of her main characters’ points of view. What techniques does she use in order to do this, and how well did you think this was handled in the book?
‘But if you never have any coincidences, your story would never get anywhere,’ says Anna, when speaking to Jeremy about the importance of plot in a novel. Did you see any coincidences in the novel, and what kind of effect do you think they had on the development of the story and characters?
Do you think that Domenica de Rosa thinks that writing can actually be ‘taught’, or is it just something that comes from within?
What did you think of the way that Patricia’s repressed memories came to the surface?
There is a contrast between the lighter, more humorous aspects of the book, and the darker themes that touch some of the characters’ lives. How well did you think Domenica de Rosa balanced these two aspects?