• The Glass Menagerie is known as a ‘memory play’, in which events are drawn from a lead character’s memory. How do Rachel’s memories impact the structure of Heatstroke? And do you think Lily leaving is in any way informed by her starring role in the school production?
• ‘They still knew the mothers who’d borne sons, but the connection was weaker.’ Do you think your life experiences – including the roles you inhabit (e.g. mother, daughter, father, friend etc.) – affect how you engage with Heatstroke as a reader? Do you think you’d feel differently if you’d come to this book at a different point in your life?
• How did you respond to the heat and claustrophobic atmosphere in the book? What effect do you think those hot summer weeks had on the characters? Would they have acted in the same way under different conditions?
• Did your understanding of Mia change over the course of the novel? Why?
• ‘I suppose she was just destroyed by her daydreams.’ Do you think Rachel’s life is what she wanted? Or has she found herself disappointed by her reality? Discuss.
• How does Hazel Barkworth’s novel explore the idea of shame – in particular, women taking on male shame?
• ‘It all looked different. Light fell in new angles.’ What do you think the future looks like for Rachel and Mia?
We hope you enjoyed reading Hazel Barkworth’s blistering debut novel. But the Heatstroke experience doesn’t end there . . .
Immerse yourself in this Heatstroke-themed Spotify playlist, curated by the author herself. Featuring tracks that evoke a little discomfort and claustrophobia, talk about power and powerlessness, and, above all, inspire a dizzying sense of nostalgia and longing, this mix of classic and modern sounds wonderfully encapsulates the essence of the book, making it the perfect accompaniment to Heatstroke.
When one book ends, another begins . . .
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Heatstroke: an intoxicating story of obsession over one hot summer Page 25