His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet September 2017

September 2017 selection - His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

The Fairfax Library Book Discussion Group will meet Thursday, September 14th at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Fairfax Library to discuss our September book His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

Discussion questions are below.

Here are some links for additional background and information:

Culduie, Highland is a real place

1994 UK newspaper article about the life of crofters

Slide show of old b&w photos of Scottish crofts and crofters

Short video about the land and history of crofters

Coming up, we have the following books to look forward to reading and discussing:

Thurs. Oct. 12^th         Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Thurs. Nov. 9^th          The Little Red Chairs by Edna O’Brien

Thurs. Dec. 14^th        News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Thanks for reading with us. I look forward to seeing you at the Fairfax Library.

Beth Bailey-Gates

1.       What role do religion and superstitious beliefs have in the novel?

2.       The novel explores the social hierarchy of the Scottish Highlands in the nineteenth century. What impact do these structures have on the lives and actions of the characters?

3.       The novel is presented as a series of “found documents.” How does this format affect your understanding of the characters and story?

4.       What roles do the various secondary characters – Lachian Mackenzie, Jetta, John Macrae,  Flora Mackenzie – play in the lead-up to Roddy’s murders?

5.       What do you think Roddy’s true motivations for the 3 murders are? To what extent  do you accept his version of events?

6.       Roddy Macrae’s fate at trial hinges on the question of his sanity. How has our understanding of insanity changed since Victorian times?

7.       Whose version of events do you think is correct -  Roddy Macrae’s written version or Dr. Thomson’s?

8.       Who was the father of Jetta’s baby?