Evening Book Club: Book Club
Contact Information
For more information regarding the Evening Book Club, please contact: Jaclyn Gomez at bkdiscuss@hkdpl.org
Meeting Schedule
Next Meeting:
September 24, 2018, 7pm
September's Book:
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
- What is the main theme of the book? Which of the characters is most changed through the course of the book?
- Which character do you like most? Why? Which character do you dislike most? Why?
- Which character do you most relate to? Why?
- What was the funniest moment of the book? Why do you think it was funny?
- Do you think that Mrs. Tilling made the right choice to help Carrington, even though it would have been illegal for her not to have handed him over to the police? A great deal has happened since the Second World War in this regard. What does that say about the society and culture in which we live?
- In what way does Venetia alter through the course of the book? What are the biggest moments of change for her?
- Why doesn’t Mrs. Tilling hand Miss Paltry over to the police? Why is she being nice to her?
- What does it say about the way her character has changed over the course of the book? Would you have handed her in?
- Are there any recurrent symbols throughout the book? Why do you think they were chosen?
- Are there any allusions to other books hidden throughout? What are they, and why are they relevant?
- Did you feel for Venetia’s dilemma after Slater left? In what ways would her choice have been easier today? Why do you think that is?
- Tragically, we already know what will probably happen to Silvie’s parents, even though none of the characters does at this point. How does that affect you when reading the book?
- What impact did the war have on women, work, and society? How do you think women’s equality has progressed since the Second World War?
- And now, a show of hands: Did you shed a few tears while reading The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir? Be honest now, there are some sad and very moving parts. Which did you find most heartrending, and why?
Source: http://www.readitforward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/chilbury_bookclubkit-1.pdf
Book Summary
The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan
Kent, 1940.
In the idyllic village of Chilbury change is afoot. Hearts are breaking as sons and husbands leave to fight, and when the Vicar decides to close the choir until the men return, all seems lost.
But coming together in song is just what the women of Chilbury need in these dark hours, and they are ready to sing. With a little fighting spirit and the arrival of a new musical resident, the charismatic Miss Primrose Trent, the choir is reborn.
Some see the choir as a chance to forget their troubles, others the chance to shine. Though for one villager, the choir is the perfect cover to destroy Chilbury’s new-found harmony.
An interview with the author
The author answers questions about her book
Book Reviews
Reviews of our current book.
Click on the links to read the full review!
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The New York TimesRyan’s first novel represents the sunnier side of World War II fiction, where women stand up for one another, frolic with whatever stray men are still about (dashing, flat-footed and otherwise) and solve a few mysteries. The empowerment is genteel. In Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows’s “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,” such ladies (and a few gentlemen) tackled literature. Here they take up singing...
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The Historical Novel Society“There’s something bolstering about singing together.” Jennifer Ryan’s charming debut interweaves many women’s voices to create a strong chorus that rings out with heart and the celebration of life. The story spans barely five months in 1940, but it’s an eventful time for Chilbury, a small Kentish village seven miles from England’s coast. With most men off at war, the vicar disbands the choir, but as with so many other home front duties, Chilbury’s women take up the reins. Their female-only singing ensemble, daring for its time, is successful in more ways than one...
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Publisher's Weekly...Told in the form of diaries and letters in the voices of the female characters, Ryan’s novel, reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, captures the experience of the war from a woman’s perspective. Readers may have come across this kind of story before, but the letter/diary format works well and the plot elements satisfyingly come together.
The Author's Website
The author's website.
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Jennifer RyanInformation about her books and herself, as well as contact information, etc.
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Book Club KitA kit with questions (those on the left side of the screen), map of the village, an interview with the author, and recipes from her grandmother from that time period.
Do you have a suggestion for a book?
Is there a book you love that you would like to share? How about a title that you've had on your "to read" list for a while? Send an email to bkdiscuss@hkdpl.org and you can join in the reading fun.