He Whispers Tortured Sounds

Lunar Worksop Book One

Book Club Resources

If you’re part of a book club reading He Whispers Tortured Sounds, I’ve put together a few topics for discussion to help get things started. If you’d like me to be a part of your discussion, let me know. I’d love to hear your thoughts and answer any questions about the book, writing, reading, or anything else your group might want to chat about.

Discussion Topics

Nature vs Nurture

The characters in this book often make choices that, without context, can be labelled as good or bad, but the story attempts to provide background for these choices by the end to view their decisions in a different light. Do you think all choices are a product of our environment or are some choices genetic?

Folktale Origins

Most of our folktales, myths, and legends are simple stories with one-dimensional characters. This makes it easy to communicate universal morals. This story attempts to provide an origin and background for one of the western world’s most well known legends, does that strengthen or weaken your connection to the traditional story?

Exploitation of Children

The exploitation of children is a common theme throughout history, including in this story. Do you believe society today does a better job in keeping children safe?

A Woman’s Choice

Emma’s desire to not have children would be incredibly rare and frowned upon in her time. Do you believe attitudes towards women who do not wish to be mothers has shifted much in the past 200+ years?

The Importance of Legacy

Legacy and the opportunity to change it is an unwritten theme of the story. Is legacy important, especially for parents? And why do so many of us usually not consider it until it’s too late to change it?

Questions FOR READERS

  • What was your favourite part of the book? Least favourite?

  • Were there scenes that stuck with you? Why?

  • Did you race to the end of the book or take it slow?

  • Did the book leave you with any lingering questions?

  • Did you enjoy the structure of the book?

  • Did you guess the twists or were you surprised by them?

Questions for the Author

  • Why did you write this particular story?

  • Did the characters have any real-world inspirations?

  • Why did you choose Scotland as the setting for this story?

  • What has the response been to the book from people in the UK?

  • What are your plans for the next book?