Questions For Your Book Club to Discuss The Ministry of Time

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley's answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.

We think your Book Club will have a lot of fun with this one, here are some of our suggestions to help guide your discussion!

Questions for Discussion:

Was The Ministry of Time what you were expecting from the cover and blurb? Did you find the mystery, love story or historical elements more intriguing?

Which genre would you describe The Ministry of Time as? What novels would you compare it to?

How do you think our protagonist changes as a character due to the events of the novel? Did you find her likeable? Why or why not? As a reader, is liking a character and/or agreeing with their decisions and principles relevant to your enjoyment of a novel?

Kaliane Bradley says her take on time travel is ‘Full of red tape… Which is what would actually happen if we developed time-travel.’ How is The Ministry of Time’s interpretation of time travel similar or different to other pieces of pop culture you’ve read or watched?

What did you think of the passages from the Franklin expedition? How did they affect your reading experience, and your opinion of Graham as a character?

How does The Ministry of Time use the idea of time travel to explore themes of colonialism and the refugee experience?

In your opinion, what would be the hardest modern concept to explain to a time traveller like Graham and why?

Did you have a favourite expat character, and why was it Arthur?*

The idea for The Ministry of Time came, in part, from Kaliane Bradley’s love for the history of polar exploration, and she wrote it with her friends from that online community in mind. Have you read (or written) fan fiction before? Imagine you need to use a fandom you’re a part of (be it through TV, music, literature or movies) as a jumping point for a novel – what do you choose?

What did you think of the ending? Did it surprise you? Did you feel everything was resolved?

*Other characters can be considered for discussion, if they must.