Book Club Questions for Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Book club questions for Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy take an in-depth look at this emotional and epic story about family and perseverance. There will be spoilers, so for more context about the story, check out my spoiler-free review first.

I really enjoyed this novel and did not want to put it down. But gosh, it’s so heavy, and I was quite sad at the ending. Sometimes with these kinds of epic novels, you have an idea of what may happen. There’s usually tragedy involved, and it’s heart-wrenching.

I understood why the author made the decisions she did, but I was still saddened by it. Despite my better judgment, I had hoped for a happier ending, but that’s rarely the case with these kinds of stories. Still, I thought it was quite an impactful one for sure.

When I finished it way too late at night, I couldn’t fall asleep! I kept thinking about all the characters, and it left a lasting impact for sure.

Let me know what you thought about the book in the comments section below!

The Story

Dominic Salt and his three children live at Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Here is the world’s largest seed bank, and while Shearwater was once full of researchers, it’s now just the Salts. And soon they will be leaving as well.

But everything changes when, after a terrible storm, a woman mysteriously washes ashore. The Salts help nurse the woman, Rowan, back to health. And while the family is used to being on their own, they start to form a connection with Rowen.

However, Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And she learns this family has secrets of their own.

Book Club Questions for Wild Dark Shore

1. The story is set in a world similar to others, but more ravaged by climate change. Is this a look into our potential future, or do you feel the world-building is more of a separate reality from ours?
2. Why was Shearwater chosen to hold the world’s largest seed bank?
3. Dominic’s wife, Clare, died in childbirth, which devastated his family. Let’s discuss why Dominic took his family to Shearwater after her tragic passing.
4. When we read Dominic’s perspective, we learn that he’s hallucinating that Clare is speaking to him. Was this a form of trauma, and not fully processing her passing?
5. Eventually, Dominic and his family are the only ones left on Shearwater. Until Rowen washes up on shore one fateful day. What were your thoughts on Rowen’s first interactions with the family?
6. Everyone is holding secrets, which results in consequences later. Why didn’t Dominic come forward with the truth about Rowen’s husband, Hank Jones? How might that have changed what unfolded in the story?
7. When did Dominic and Rowen start to bond and form a connection?
8. Did their romance ring true and make sense to you? Or were you not sold by it?
9. We learn that despite Rowen taking a huge risk coming to the island, her marriage to Hank was unhappy. Their house was destroyed in a fire, and while Hank wanted children, Rowen didn’t. This caused Hank to leave her behind to work as a researcher on Shearwater. Why did Rowen come to the island, despite their marriage disputes?
10. There’s quite a bit of tragedy on the island, such as the deaths of Alex, Tom, and Naija. How did this showcase how dangerous this island is?
11. Why did Fen choose to stay closer to the animals of the island rather than with her family?
12. Hank had sent emails to Rowen claiming he was in danger on the island. We eventually find out that he groomed Dominic’s daughter, Fen. Did Hank experience a mental breakdown being on the island, or was the author trying to hint at something else at play with him? What was your take on this character?
13. Rowen’s backstory includes the fact that she was in charge of her younger siblings, and her youngest brother died in a drowning accident, which Rowen felt was her fault. This is one reason she didn’t want to have children of her own. But she does find herself bonding with the Salt children. How did being around the Salt children help Rowen put her guard down?
14. Dominic and Rowen chose each other, and plan to all leave the island together. However, the discovery of Hank and Orly’s attempt to rescue him changes everything. What were your thoughts on the climax and Rowen sacrificing herself to save Orly?
15. What happens next for the Salt family?

Additional Recommendations

Hope you enjoyed the book club questions for Wild Dark Shore! Here are some more recommendations, along with links to book club questions.

Sometime in the future—could be soon or could be decades from now—many animals are now extinct. Climate change has done a number on the normal way of life. Franny Stone loves fiercely but also runs away from everything in her life. She takes her research gear and arrives in Greenland to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica.

But as Franny’s history begins to unspool—a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime—it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds. When Franny’s dark secrets catch up with her, how much is she willing to risk for one more chance at redemption?

While this novel is a hard read, I thought it was well done, and it will leave a lasting impact. Check out my full review here.

And my book club discussion questions here.

It’s part literary thriller, revealing character study, a look at how power corrupts, and much more. It truly is a stunning story.

But it’s not an easy read. It covers not one, but two missing children, and the ramifications it has on the family and the larger community. Some unsettling aspects unfold. But like Long Bright River, Liz Moore handles her stories with care and respect.

The God of the Woods is a wonderful pick for book clubs. There’s so much to discuss and analyze, so definitely add it to your book club list for the coming months. Check out my spoiler-free review here.

For book clubs, check out my discussion questions here.

Happy reading!