1. Who is Josie’s boyfriend at the beginning of the book?

2. Meg and Rik are family, in what way?

3. What is Clem’s mother’s job?

4. How is Andy related to (familie van) Josie?

5. What happened in the war made Aubrey sick. What is his sickness called?

Card 1/6 - Personal connections?

At one point Rik wants to tell Senara about his feelings for her. He does not get to tell her because of a miscommunication between the two. Do you understand why they both have difficulty talking about their true feelings? Have you ever been in a similar situation?

Card 2/6 - Personal connections?

Although Senara doesn’t really like Clementine at first, they do become friends. Why is Senara interested in Clementine? And why does she also feel a little bit uncomfortable about this friendship?

Card 3/6 - Personal connections?

There are many characters in the book. If you could become friends with one of them, who would that be and why?

Card 4/6 - Personal connections?

Are there any taboos, topics everyone prefers not to discuss, in your own family? You do not have to share what these topics are if you don’t want to, but could you explain in general how they affect you or your family?

Card 5/6 - Personal connections?

In the end of the book, Senara inherits Cliff House. Clementine always thought that Cliff House was going to stay in her family so she is angry and very jealous. Do you ever feel jealous when your friends do or get things you would like to do or have yourself?

Card 6/6 - Personal connections?

There is a difference in the way Meg and Josie deal with their sexuality. Meg is very open about being bi, Josie is mostly confused when she falls in love with a girl for the first time. Consider these two different attitudes towards sexuality and discuss how being gay is approached in your personal surroundings.

Personal connections?

That was the last card!

Card 1/6 - Food for thought?

When they were children and didn’t know each other very well, Clementine called Josie, Gareth and Senara ‘peasants’. Why do Josie, Gareth and Senara feel so offended by this word?

Card 2/6 - Food for thought?

Josie writes letters to her uncle Andy in Thailand. He never writes back, but the letters are very important for Josie. Why is that? What do these letters mean to Josie?

Card 3/6 - Food for thought?

When they first meet, Rik thinks that Senara is one of the maids (kamermeisjes) of Cliff House. This is, of course, very embarrassing for both of them. This theme of class difference (verschil in sociale klasse) is found often in the book, for example, in Martha’s situation. Can you explain how these class differences shape the relationships between the characters?

Card 4/6 - Food for thought?

In the book, two deaths are covered up. Of course, the best thing to do is go to the police after an accidental (per ongeluk) killing. But here, all the characters involved have their reasons not to call the police. For each character, discuss the reasons for covering up a death.

Card 5/6 - Food for thought?

There are four points of view in the book; Martha’s, Josie’s, Senara’s and Felicity’s. Why do you think the writer did this? And what point of view was the best one for you to read? Explain your answer.

Card 6/6 - Food for thought?

In the book, two families are torn apart (uit elkaar gescheurd) by domestic abuse (Rachel’s family) or sexual abuse (Josie’s family). Explain the consequences of these types of abuse for all characters involved, both from Josie’s generation and from the generation of her mum and uncle.

Food for thought?

That was the last card!