Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel blends historical events with myth and folklore, especially in moments like Tomás’s vision at the holy well and Eugene’s final transformation. How did this mix of realism and magic work for you? Did you find it enhanced the story’s themes, or did it feel jarring at times?

2. Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet also explores historical trauma and deep grief. If you’ve read it, how did you find the portrayal of loss and survival in Land similar to or different from her other work? For those new to her writing, what was your impression of her prose and storytelling style?

3. What was your reaction to the novel’s ending? The siblings are scattered and never reunite, leaving their individual fates unresolved as a family unit. Did you find this conclusion powerful and fitting, or were you hoping for a different kind of resolution?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Tomás feels compelled to work for the British surveyors to provide for his family, even though it conflicts with his cultural identity. Think about a time when you’ve had to navigate a conflict between your personal values and professional or practical necessities. How did you handle that tension?

2. Enda pours her passion into playing the fiddle, which becomes her ticket to a new life and a way to preserve her heritage. Has a creative outlet or a particular passion ever provided you with a sense of purpose or helped you through a difficult time?

3. Which of the siblings’ responses to their family’s splintering did you connect with most? Do you see yourself more in Liam’s search for structure, Enda’s quest for freedom, Rose’s instinct to care for others, or Eugene’s deep connection to place?

4. The idea of home is constantly shifting in this novel, from a Dublin tenement, to a remote cottage, and finally to new continents. What does home mean to you? Is it the land, the family, or something you carry within you?

5. The widow is an important figure of support and wisdom for the family, especially after Phina’s death. Who have been the “widows” in your own life, the mentors or community members who offered guidance or kindness when you needed it most?

6. Phina and Tomás secretly save money for Liam’s passage to Québec, believing it offers him a better future than they can provide. Do you think you would have made the same choice that Liam makes in the novel, or do you identify more with Enda’s choice to seek happiness overseas?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The British Ordnance Survey’s project of anglicizing Gaelic place names is a central example of cultural erasure. Can you think of examples today where language or naming is used as a tool of power or control by a dominant group?

2. How does the novel use the story of a single family to illustrate the destructive, long-term impact of a national catastrophe like the Great Famine? What did you learn or feel about this historical period through the personal experiences of Tomás, Phina, and the widow?

3. Father Joseph represents the institutional church, which he uses to suppress Tomás’s native spirituality and control Liam. What does the book suggest about the complex role of organized religion in colonized societies? Does it primarily act as a force for assimilation, or can it also be a source of community and resistance?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Eugene’s deep, non-verbal connection to the land makes him a powerful symbolic figure. How does his silence function in the story, and what does his ultimate transformation into a gruagach, or nature spirit, suggest about the novel’s themes?

2. Much like the novel Greenwood by Michael Christie, the narrative structure jumps through time, from Brith’s ancient story to the siblings’ scattered lives years later. What is the effect of this non-linear storytelling? How does it reinforce the idea that the landscape holds all these histories simultaneously?

3. Maps are an important symbol in the novel, representing both colonial power and cultural reclamation. How does Tomás’s “true map” challenge the official British version of the map? What does it mean for a map to tell the truth of a place?

4. The wolfhound appears first with Brith and later as Bran, the family’s loyal protector. What does this recurring figure symbolize throughout the novel? How does Bran’s death serve as a turning point in the story?

5. Consider the different paths of Liam and Enda. Both flee the peninsula, but for very different reasons and with different outcomes. What do their diverging journeys reveal about faith, art, and the struggle to define oneself against family and history?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Tomás begins to create his own map based on myth, memory, and spiritual significance. If you were to create a similar map of a place important to you, what unconventional landmarks or personal histories would you include to capture its true essence?

2. Imagine you are casting a film adaptation of Land. Who would you cast in the key roles of Tomás, Phina, Liam, and Enda? What qualities would you be looking for in the actors to bring these complex characters to life?

3. The novel concludes without a reunion for the siblings. If you were to write a brief “letter home” from either Enda or Rose in Canada to the widow, not knowing she has passed away, what would they share about their new life, and what questions would they ask about the home they left behind?