Kilbourn Public Library Book Club

The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher is the book selection for February for the Kilbourn Public Library Book Discussion Group.  Set in London and Cornwall from World War II to present, The Shell Seekers tells the story of the Keeling family, and of the passions and heartbreak that have held them together for three generations.  The family centers around Penelope, and it is her love, courage, and sense of values that determine the course of all their lives.  Deftly shifting back and forth in time, each chapter centers on one of the principal players in the family's history. The unifying thread is an oil painting entitled "The Shell Seekers," done by Penelope's father.  It is this painting that symbolizes to Penelope the ties between the generations.  But it is the fate of this painting that just may tear the family apart.

How would you describe Penelope Keeling as a character?  What traits would you ascribe to her?

What makes Noel and Nancy so unlikable?  Does Pilcher develop them fully as emotionally complex characters or as shallow, one-dimensional characters?

What about Olivia?  Is she too good to be true?

How does the prospect of an inheritance affect family dynamics, both in this story and in life?  Is Pilcher's account of Penelope's family realistic?

Why does Penelope want to keep The Shell Seekers?  What does it mean to her?  Were you held in suspense wondering how Penelope would eventually dispense with the painting?  Were you satisfied with the outcome?

Let us know what you think of The Shell Seekers.