Brixton Beach – Reading Group Questions
Brixton Beach opens dramatically with the horrors of the 2005 London bombings. Did you find this an effective beginning to the novel? How and why?
Alice is the daughter of a Singhalese mother and a Tamil father. How does this affect the way that she, and her family, are treated by others? In what ways does her parenthood influence the direction her life takes?
In chapter three, Grandpa Bee tells Alice, ‘This is your first home, you were born here. That’s a powerful thing, don’t ever forget it. But it may not be your last…’ By the end of the novel which, would you argue, is Alice’s true home? Sri Lanka or England? Or both?
How significant is the character of Kunal? What are your thoughts on his relationship with Sita?
Homeland, identity and relationships are all central themes of Brixton Beach. In what ways are these tested when the Fonsekas move to England? How are they developed throughout the book? And which, would you argue, is the most relevant to the novel?
What did you know about the Sri Lankan civil war before reading Brixton Beach? How has this book shaped your understanding of the conflict and Sri Lanka itself?
In chapter six, May says to Alice, ‘I am actually glad you’re going to England. Glad you won’t be subjected to any of the terrible things happening in our country … In England you will learn justice and truth.’ How accurate do you think this statement is?
How do the Fonsekas adjust to life in England? Do their experiences in their new environment differ, and if so, why?
Kamala, Sita and Alice – three generations of Sri Lankan women. In what ways are their lives similar? In what ways are they different? What do you think Brixton Beach reveals about the role of women in Sri Lanka?
In what ways does Roma Tearne highlight the differences in landscape between Sri Lanka and England? Do you think the fact that she is a visual artist, as well as an author, has an impact on the way she writes?
Brixton Beach is the name Alice gives to her new home in London. What do you think this symbolises, and do you think it is a powerful title?
