> Skip to content

Book clubs  •  12 May 2016

 

Ice Letters book club notes

A heartwrenching reading group choice: Susan Errington’s Ice Letters.

Susan Errington’s second novel is a story of love, peace, violence and Antarctica. When lovers Dora and Daniel part, they agree to write to one another despite knowing the letters would never be sent. Thousands of miles apart, their passion grows as the decisions they have made imperil them both.

Ice Letters covers themes of love and duty, war and peace, courage and cowardice. The intertwined stories of Dora and Daniel reveal conflicts – emotional and physical – and explore the sometimes devastating consequences of the choices people make.

 

Reading group questions

  • Ice Letters is set during the First World War. In what ways is it a war story or a novel of pacifism? And, perhaps, a love story?
  • Taking place in Australia and Antarctica between 1916 and 1918, how authentic was the novel’s sense of place and time?
  • Dora and Daniel find themselves in positions where they are confronted by difficult choices. How influenced do you think they were by their unusual familial circumstances?
  • What would you have done in their positions?
  • What interests you most about Dora?
  • What do you think is the nature of the relationship between Dora and Malachy Mara?
  • What does the novel say about courage and cowardice?
     

Feature Title

Ice Letters
A First World War novel of love, peace, violence and Antarctica
Read more

More features

See all
Book clubs
What I Would Do to You book club questions

A stunning, thought-provoking debut to read with your book club.

Book clubs
A Gentleman in Moscow book club questions

A letter from the author and book club questions for one of Amor Towles' most popular books.

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