Our book group choice for May 2024 is Here We Are by Graham Swift. The story – set in 1959 Brighton, England – revolves around three entertainers in a seaside variety show: Ronnie, the magician; Evie, his enchanting assistant; and Jack, the charismatic compere.
Ronnie, haunted by a fractured childhood, finds solace and purpose in magic, creating illusions that mask his inner turmoil. Evie, yearning for stability, is drawn to Ronnie’s enigmatic charm. Jack, perceptive and ambitious, observes the growing tension between the couple, recognizing the fleeting nature of their summer romance.
As the season unfolds, their personal dramas intertwine with their onstage performances, culminating in a shocking event that alters their lives forever.
Swift masterfully weaves together themes of illusion, memory, and longing, creating a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. Through vivid prose and compelling characters, Here We Are delves into the complexities of the human heart, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.
Discussion Questions
- Should this have been a longer novel?
- The book shifts in time and uses changes of narrator and perspective. The story is hinted at, but doesn’t come out all at once. Does this non-chronological structure aid the telling of the story?
- Jack thinks of himself as a song and dance man. Do we get to know Jack’s real character? Does he have one, or has he always been acting? Who is Jack?
- Evie tells of her childhood and her pushy mother and also provides us with the ‘reveal’ that she ends up married to Jack. She then looks back over their 49 years together. She makes life with Jack sound perfect – but was it?
- Jack and Evie are said to be ‘two of a kind’ but Ronnie is described as ‘a different kettle of fish’. What makes him different to the other two main characters?
- Are the characters plausible? Who did you think was the main character in the book?
- The impact of that summer season in Brighton and 1959 affects the rest of Jack and Evie’s lives. Is the year and the location significant?
- There are several deaths in the book – Ronnie’s father and mother, Jack, Mr Lawrence and Mrs Lawrence (off-screen). How are these weighted in the book?
- The parrot features throughout the book. What do you think this represents?
- In later years, Evie seems like a very practical, astute and no-nonsense type. Has she always been like this? Do you think that Evie once believed in magic?
- How do you think the final trick/illusion was done? Did it really happen or has it been exaggerated as Evie looks back over the last 50 years?
- What is the difference between a trick and an illusion? Why is Ronnie so particular about the distinction?
- Why do you think that Evie doesn’t want a biography of Jack to be commissioned? Is Evie an unreliable narrator?
- The author doesn’t tell us what happened to Ronnie. What do you think happened to him? Would you have preferred it if Graham Swift had provided us with the answer?
- To whom would you recommend this book?
Individual Ratings
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