When the World Fell Silent

At various points in the book, different characters express attitudes about serving at home vs. serving at the front. Do you think one is more valid than the other?

Nora and Charlotte have different upbringings and live very different lives, yet both are tragically affected by the explosion. Did you relate to one character more than the other, and why?

We know much more about trauma responses and PTSD today than was known in 1917. How did you feel about the actions of the characters as they processed their grief and trauma? Were the soldiers’ responses different from, for example, Nora’s and Charlotte’s?

How did you feel about Alley’s role in the story?

The story recounts a pivotal event in Canada’s history – the largest man-made explosion until 1945’s bombing of Japan and a mass casualty event. Had you heard of this event before? How did it change your view of Canada in wartime?

In the beginning of the story, we see Nora as an independent woman—or, as she says, as independent as a woman can be in 1917—who bucks tradition in favour of a career. Her choices—and the explosion—lead to some big life changes. Charlotte, on the other hand, begins the story entrenched in domestic life and then must find work. How did you feel about the changes in their circumstances? Is one life better than the other?

What role does community play in the story?

Do you see any parallels in the themes in the book with our lives today? What do you think is the most important message from the story?

Did you know about the “sister city” relationship between Halifax and Boston that stemmed from this event?

Did you find the ending of the book surprising? Satisfying?