> Skip to content

Book clubs  •  29 March 2017

 

Congo Dawn book club notes

Transport your book club to Africa with Katherine Scholes’ Congo Dawn.

A landmark novel about good and evil, and the inexhaustible power of love; an unforgettable story filled with drama, conflict and deep emotion – Katherine Scholes’ Congo Dawn has all the hallmarks of a book club hit. Here are some questions kick off a memorable reading group meet-up.


Discussion points and questions:
 

  • What did you make of Anna’s decision to head to the Congo, and then deeper into the jungle? Did she really have any choice?
  • At the lakeside hotel Eliza tells Anna that ‘the journey itself will have meaning’. How is this proven true in the story?
  • When Dan joins the Commando unit he is told, ‘It will be the most important thing you will do in your life.’ Do you agree?
  • Anna comes to understand that some of her feelings stem from ‘the part of a girl’s heart that belongs to her father’. Discuss the significance of the father–daughter relationship in the novel.
  • Dan forgives Marion for leaving him. Can you?  
  • When Dan saves the life of a Simba rebel, he briefly questions his own actions. Do you think it is possible to do the right thing and the wrong thing, both at the same time?
  • If violence breeds violence, can love do the same? In what ways is this idea played out in Congo Dawn?
  • There are many different battles in the book – people fight physical foes, but also fear, disease, ignorance, guilt, deception. Can you identify other forms of conflict in the novel?
  • The mercenary soldiers are all fictitious, but were partly inspired by real people who fought in the Congo. Can you understand someone making this choice?
  • The Congo jungle is experienced very differently by the various characters in the book. Describe the contrasting relationships with reference to the local people, the missionaries, the mercenary soldiers, the Simbas, Anna, Dan and Eliza.
  • Discuss the symbolism of the leopard.
  • By the end of the book, which characters have come to gain more than they lose?

 

Feature Title

Congo Dawn
An unforgettable story filled with drama, conflict and deep emotion.
Read more

More features

See all
Q&A
Katherine Scholes Q&A

The bestselling author on her unyielding love affair with the African continent.

Article
Creating Congo Dawn

Katherine Scholes reflects on writing uncharted territory.

Book clubs
Kind of, Sort of, Maybe, But Probably Not book club questions

A charming, quirky novel to read with your book club.

Book clubs
The Bee Sting book club questions

A thought-provoking book about family and fortune to read with your book club.

Book clubs
The Other Bridget book club questions

A feelgood romantic comedy by Australia's bestselling romance writer.

Book clubs
Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer Book Club Questions

Amy Doak on the creation of Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer.

Book clubs
Foul Play book club questions

A heart-stopping jack Hawksworth novel to read with your book club.

Book clubs
The Sugar Palace book club questions

A heart-stopping romantic adventure to read with your book club.

Book clubs
Black Sheep book club questions

A sweeping historical novel to read with your book club.

Book clubs
Others Were Emeralds book club questions

A stirring coming-of-age novel to read with your book club.

Book clubs
Back to Bangka book club questions

A gripping wartime memoir with a twist, to read with your book club.

Book clubs
On a Bright Hillside in Paradise book club questions

A book about faith and family to read with your book club.

Looking for more book club notes?

See all book club notes