Are you studying SLEEPERS IN THE SNOW with a reading group? Here are a few resources to help you get started. (Warning: may contain spoilers!)
Resources
The Lyke Wake Dirge is featured and quoted throughout the novel. It’s a 14th-century dialect poem, which follows the journey of the lyke (corpse) through the trials of the afterlife. Here’s an article about it, including a version of the poem itself.
As you know, I don’t listen to music when I’m working because I read aloud so much that music would interfere with the sounds of the words and phrases. But I do like to make up playlists to accompany the book. Here’s one for SLEEPERS IN THE SNOW: just don’t try to dance to it…
- Laurie Anderson: O Superman: Simply the most eerie, evocative and prescient track of a decade. I’m still floored by its bleakness. And yes, she understands the assignment…
- Glen Campbell: Wichita Lineman: The discomfort of this track isn’t as obvious as the Anderson song, but there’s still so much tension hidden behind its apparent smoothness. I refer to it in SLEEPERS (for reasons that will be obvious).
- The Young Tradition: The Lyke Wake Dirge: There are many versions of this old ballad (Pentangle and Steeleye Span both did excellent ones), but I do especially like the relentless, doomy drone of the backing vocals in this one. The text, from which I quote extensively in SLEEPERS, dates back to the 14th century or earlier, but the music generally used by modern bands dates only from the 18th century, when it was composed to fit the ancient words. (Audio book listeners, in my recording of the audiobook, I deliberately didn’t use the music you might have expected, but inserted something of my own, to hint at something older…)
- Kate Bush: Wuthering Heights: The ultimate song for those lost souls wandering the moors…
- Johnny Cash: Hurt: A spectacular cover version of the original Nine Inch Nails song, I love this because of the utterly raw, sincere, broken quality to the voice and the distinct sense of something passing.
- Leonard Cohen: Dress Rehearsal Rag: Another brilliant anthem to self-hatred and regret, this version is particularly dark and bitter…
The house in SLEEPERS is on the route of the famous Lyke Wake Walk. Here’s some more information about it, including the rules of the Lyke Wake Club, and how to become a Witch or a Dirger.
I wrote a piece about the senses, and how losing them is the most frightening thing.
Many of you know that I use scent a lot in my writing. This book was written with the help of 4160 Tuesdays’ THE LION CUPBOARD. Learn about it here.
One of my inspirations for SLEEPERS was Hookland, an alternative county with its own peculiar history, imagined and curated by David Southwell. Learn more about it here.
One of the local legends of SLEEPERS is the Barguest, a sinister black dog, which also inspired Conan Doyle’s HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Read more about it here.
Snacks
Fancy a themed snack for your book group? Why not try this delicious Yorkshire rhubarb and chocolate crumble, courtesy of my good friend, David Greenwood-Haigh…?
Or this recipe for salted caramel brownies?
Questions for discussion:
- Why do you think the author chose to use the Lyke Wake Dirge as a leitmotif in the novel?
- One of the main unsettling images in the novel is the pylon. How does the author make it an object of fear?
- The unnamed protagonist leaves his name behind, along with his old life. Why do you think he does this?
- What happened to Arthur and Caroline, and why do you think they drifted apart?
- What relationship do you think Arthur has with his children? Why?
- What do you think the tennis balls mean, and why do they keep coming back?
- In what way do you feel this counts as a ghost story (or not)?
- Arthur becomes obsessed with the pylon near his house. What do you think it means to him?
- As Caroline becomes increasingly concerned about Arthur’s state of mind, she starts to cut short her visits to her friends and into the village. Why? Do you think she ever considered leaving him?
- Arthur is both drawn to Lucy, and unnerved by her. Why? Do you think she is who she claims to be?
- Lanscape is very important in this book. How does the author investigate the relationship between the man and the landscape?
- What role does folklore and the occult play in this story? Why do you think the author chose to use these elements of magic and superstition?
- How do you think the author managed to introduce a sense of uncertainty into the story?
- To what extent would you say this story is a metaphor about dementia and memory loss? How does the author keep you guessing?
- Much is this book is about solitude. How would you manage, living in an environment like Kirkhill? What resources would you need to survive?
- Why do you think the protaginist is so drawn to the idea of having a dog? What does Caroline’s dog mean to him?
- After reading the diary, why is he drawn to Caroline? In what ways do you think he becomes obsessed with her?
- Dr Benn writes to warn Arthur to get out of the house. Why? What does he think is going to happen?
- Who are the walkers, and what is their role in the story?
- What do you think happens at the end of the book? Why does the author end it as she does?