A Town Called Solace

The chapters alternate between the perspectives of the three protagonists, but Mrs. Orchard’s chapters are the only ones that contain first-person narration. What is the significance of this narrative technique in telling Mrs. Orchard’s story? What makes it different from or similar to the third-person narration used in Liam’s and Clara’s chapters?

Analyze the adult-child relationships in the book, specifically those between Mrs. Orchard and Liam, Mrs. Orchard and Clara, and Liam and Clara. What are the similarities and differences that exist between these dynamics? How do they illustrate the novel’s key themes and ideas?

How are familial dynamics depicted in the book? What does the novel suggest about the nature of family?

All of the protagonists wrestle with different problems, and each tries a variety of coping mechanisms and strategies. What are the links or parallels between these different dilemmas?

The novel explores the human need for connection and belonging. What different forms of connection exist in the novel? How do they intersect with, or diverge from, one another?

What is the relationship between past and present in A Town Called Solace? How does the novel’s narrative structure reflect and illustrate the significance of this relationship?

Analyze the portrayal of motherhood in the novel. What is its role in the text? How do different female characters—Mrs. Orchard, Fiona, Annette, and/or Diane—experience motherhood (or the lack of it)?

How are different forms of loss explored in the book? How does loss contribute to the character arcs of each of the protagonists?