The Dog Who Came in from the Cold (38 page)

—
The Washington Post

Questions for Discussion

1. The opening pages of
   The Dog Who Came in from the Cold
   find William French reflecting on furniture. “Our furniture,” he ruminates, “says so much about us—perhaps more than we would like to acknowledge” [
   this page
   ]. Clothes are easier to change with passing fashions than furniture. Do you have furniture than reminds you of a stage in your life, perhaps more than you would wish?
   
2. On a different floor of Corduroy Mansions, Caroline is weighing her options. “I just don’t know what to do,” she confided in her mother … “There are these two men, you see, and I really don’t know which one to choose. But maybe I should choose neither” [
   this page
   ]. What do you make of Caroline’s quandary? Have you ever been forced to chose between two people you love?
   
3. Caroline’s mother’s generation would never have seen choosing to remain alone as an option. What has changed in society to make this a valid alternative?
   
4. Not far away at the Ragg Porter Literary Agency, the tensions between Barbara and Rupert over Barbara’s flat are likened to the hostilities between Ecuador and Peru. “There had never been open hostilities … just enough to keep the matter alive but not sufficient to lead to actual conflict” [
   this page
   ]. Have you ever had to work with someone in these conditions? Knowing Rupert and his wife covet Barbara’s flat, why do you think she would risk giving them a key?
   
5. Barbara is still trying to work on
   The Autobiography of the Yeti
   . What do you think of Erroll Greatorex’s story? Do you believe that just because you don’t/can’t see something that means it doesn’t exist? If Rupert and Gloria are so convinced that the idea of a yeti is ridiculous, why do they continue to track it across London?
   
6. While Caroline and her newly-acquainted neighbor are having tea, Berthea theorizes that liberal social change has taken away people’s ability to belong, causing a sense of purposelessness [
   this page
   -
   this page
   ]. By creating nations where there small communities, combining churches, streamlining dialects to form one single language, society has “destroyed the familiar … weakened the notion of order … People used to have a sense of what their lives meant because they belonged to things.” Discuss how you feel about this idea.
   
7. William’s friend and former flatmate Marcia loves to cook—especially for men. “I know I should be all independent and self-sufficient and so on, but that’s just not
   me …
   [W]hat if I’m fulfilled by doing things for other people?” she asks a friend [
   this page
   ]. He friend calls her “inauthentic” in return. Which side do you take in this exchange? Is it possible to be old-fashioned in a politically correct society?
   
8. Meanwhile, our canine hero, Freddie de la Hay, has been recruited by the M16 (with the help of Angelica Brockelbank and Sebastian Duck). Why does William let them take Freddie? Discuss the importance of serving your country versus keeping your loved ones safe.
   
9. On a smaller, albeit equally important level (in the eyes of Freddie de al Hay), what do people owe to their pets? Companionship? Care? Kindness? Are we their owners? Protectors? Friends? [See
   this page
   -
   this page
   .]
   
10. Berthea Snark is quite straightforward when it comes to dealing with her feelings for her family. She continues to write the not-very-favorable biography of her son, Oedipus, while feeling sorry for her brother—”Dear Terence! What a disaster area he is!” [
    this page
    ]. Although she appears to love Terence, she is condescending toward his “magical thinking” [
    this page
    ]. Discuss Berthea’s relationship with Terence. Does she show him respect? How do you think he feels toward her?
    
11. Caroline’s life becomes more difficult when she finds herself jealous that Dee went to dinner with James. Throughout the book, the way Caroline thinks of herself (and the way people view her) takes on many timbres. How does it change when James describes the way he feels toward her? What about when Caroline speaks with her flatmate, Jo? And Caroline’s discussion with her own mother? How does seeing yourself through another’s eyes help you reflect upon your own life?
    
12. When she meets Claire and Rog, Berthea feels the need to defend her brother against these people that would scheme against him to steal his home. Although Berthea has always loved her brother she goes to great lengths to secure his future happiness. What do you think she learns about Terence in the meantime?
    
13. The most overarching theme in this book seems to be about home: Barbara finds a home with Hugh, Berthea helps Terence save his house, William brings home Freddie de la Hay, even Rupert gets his flat. How much does home have to do with where a person lives versus where a person comes from? What about where a person belongs?