Questions About Instructions for a Heatwave

by Maggie O'Farrell (Goodreads Author)

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Instructions for a Heatwave, please sign up.

Answered Questions (5)

What did Gabe write on the fogged glass in the airport?

Joey Kolasinsky

This answer contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

flag

When Robert disappeared, why weren’t the family worried about foul play? I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers so naturally I thought of murder. No one seemed to think that.

Laurean The police were called. Although the family did not think the police were doing enough; no bodies had been found or evidence of foul play. Greeta susp…moreThe police were called. Although the family did not think the police were doing enough; no bodies had been found or evidence of foul play. Greeta suspected where he was bc she knew his background story in Ireland. She kept it from her children bc she did not want her secret revealed.(less)

flag

What was the point of the extracts from the Drought Act 1976 at the beginning of each section of this book? I thought it might allude to something; if it did, I didn't get it.

Ian Mapp There's an interview with the author at the back of my paperback. She was saying it was written during the icelandic volcano crisis and she had observ…moreThere's an interview with the author at the back of my paperback. She was saying it was written during the icelandic volcano crisis and she had observed how a natural disaster had caused people to add oddly, as though they felt so obsolete and small when faced with the something out of their control.

The Hot Summer of 76 was a similar crisis and sticks in the memory of those who lived through it. The Drought act extracts were highlighting just how serious a time it was - food shortages expected, water rationing etc. It's a backdrop as to why the Riodarden's exploded as a family.
(less)

flag

Whose fault is it that Monica's secret was found out?