Iron Lake Discussion Questions
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- Bestselling novelist Louise Penny has praised her colleague William Kent Krueger’s protagonist as one who “walked off the page… tough, vulnerable, hardened and shattered” from his very first appearance. If you feel this to be true, what life experiences, personality traits, or narrative choices by the author contribute to the feeling?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Despite their infidelity, neither Jo nor Cork spends the night with their lovers until they learn of the other’s betrayal. It seems that, until that point, spending an entire night was a boundary they were unwilling to cross. What do you think changed in their view of their marriage and future that led to this shift in behaviour?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Cork remains committed to and invested in his children, often prioritizing their needs over his own personal romantic happiness. How do you view Cork as a father? What do you think of his parenting style and his relationships with each of his children?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Cork O’Connor is part Irish and part Anishinaabe and came to his former position as sheriff of Aurora after serving as a cop in inner-city Chicago. In what ways do his heritage and background make him suited to lead the investigation at the heart of Iron Lake and in what ways do they hinder his efforts?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- The natural world, both in terms of the setting and the elements, is ever-present throughout the novel. How does the way the characters relate to the environs of Aurora enhance your appreciation or understanding of the setting? How does the setting contribute to your understanding of the characters?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Family frictions and loyalties loom large in Iron Lake, with the LeBeau and O’Connor families as the clearest examples. How do these family dynamics drive the plot of – and the mysteries at the center of – this book?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- What effects, both positive and negative, did the introduction of the Casino have on the Aurora community?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- We discover how Cork lost his position as sheriff through a flashback. How might you have reacted if you were in Cork’s shoes during the conflict over water and fishing rights? What would you have done differently?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Cork and his daughters care for Romeo and Juliet, a pair of recuperating Canadian geese. What significance might this storyline hold, allegorical or otherwise?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Both Sam Winter Moon and Henry Meloux are important guides, mentors, and supporters for Cork throughout the book, but at different times and in different ways. How do you think the men help guide Cork, especially spiritually and emotionally? Do you think they influence Cork’s behaviour and his relationships with the people around him?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Jo, Molly, Wanda Manydeeds, Darla LeBeau, Rose, and even Jenny are all depicted as strong and capable women in their own individual ways, and the men in their lives seem to expect and respect that. What do you think of the women in the book? Which one made the strongest impression on you, and why?
- 5 months, 3 weeks ago
- Sheriff Schanno, and later Cork O’Connor, come into possession of a cache of blackmail materials which incriminates not just the story’s central characters – but dozens of their neighbors in Aurora. What factors drive the choices of each man? If placed in this position, do you think you would reveal or destroy that damning evidence?
- 5 months, 4 weeks ago
- Both Friar Tom Griffin and Sheriff Wally Shannon violate what many people would consider their sacred vow or oath. They clearly have their reasons for doing so, and there is more to their stories. What did you think of their choices? Did their actions change what you thought about them?
- 5 months, 4 weeks ago
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