DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR BOOK CLUBS

 

      1.       What did you think of the ending of The Ballroom Café? The Irish Times said this: ‘Secrets emerge, there’s a whopper of a twist and this unabashed tear-jerker ends with a well-earthed, well-calculated emotional finale.’ Many have asked for a sequel. Was the ending appropriate in your opinion?

       2.      Did it work having the café as the main focus point for the novel?

3.       The Ballroom Café is often called a romantic novel, why do you think that is the case?

4.       The weather plays an important role in the novel, do you think it adds to the overall atmosphere.

5.       Do you think the issue of forced illegal adoption is examined fairly and from all sides?

6.       Ella finds solace in vintage Weiss brooches. How well do you think this works in the novel?

7.       Ella bakes scrumptious cakes for the patrons of The Ballroom Café, could you smell the baking wafting through the house?

8.       Which character changes the most during the novel?

9'.   Did the flashbacks to Debbie’s childhood in Ohio work?

10.   What was the most surprising aspect of The Ballroom Café?

11.   How do you think Irish society was portrayed? The Sunday Times said there was a skilful expose of a broken society?

12.   Did the notes show accurately the tension between the sisters Roberta and Ella?

13.   Do you think the mixture of gossip, cake, tea hand in hand with tragedy and a deep emotional issue worked?

          14.What was your favourite scene in the novel? Mine has to be when Ella O’Callaghan is facing down the snotty bank manager, who has threatened to repossess her treasured home Roscarbury Hall.

“In all my prayerful life, I have never felt so crucified. I will die before I move out of Roscarbury Hall.”