Claire Fuller’s latest novel Unsettled Ground has recently been announced as appearing on the long list for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021. We are absolutely thrilled for her here at LoveReading as not only is Unsettled Ground a stunningly dark yet exquisite tale, her books have been favourites of ours since her debut Our Endless Numbered Days. I was fortunate to review Bitter Orange which is an atmospheric stormy beauty of a read and Claire has also appeared on Episode 5 of our Podcast and as our Author in the Picture in May 2019. In other words, we think she is a wonderfully talented author who consistently delivers the most provocative and thought-provoking books. Unsettled Ground would make a fabulous book club pick, there is so much to discover within a seemingly simple premise. She takes two people sitting on the edge of society, and brings them to startlingly vivd life while encouraging your own thoughts to explore and test and taste the differences within. We hope you enjoy this book as much as we have.

We have ten questions to start you off:

  • What were your thoughts about the relationship between Jeanie and Julius and how it changed and developed over the course of the novel?
  • The cottage and garden plays such a central role within the novel, did you see it as refuge or prison or perhaps both?
  • How did the other characters behaviour affect your thoughts towards Jeanie and Julius?
  • What did you think about the way poverty is dealt with in the novel?
  • How did the novel encourage you to explore how humanity deals with people who live on the edge of society?
  • Music features throughout, in what way did the folk songs speak to you?
  • How did the revelations affect how you felt about Dot and her relationship with the twins.
  • Did you come close to understanding why Dot made the decisions she did?
  • How did the ending make you feel, do you feel it suited the tone of the novel?
  • What three words would you use to describe Unsettled Ground to someone?

If you missed them, you can catch up on our previous Book Club Recommendations for each month below:

August 2020: A Room Made of Leaves by Kate Grenville

September 2020: Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan

October 2020: Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman.

November 2020: The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby

December 2020: Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam

January 2021: Victoria Park by Gemma Reeves

February 2021: Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden

March 2021: Barn Club by Robert J Somerville

If you want even more book club recommendations, browse our selection here.