Dear Miss Lake: A Reading Group Guide and My Playlist
Stuff to get you talking, tunes to get you singing along, or maybe even writing the screenplay
If you’ve read Dear Miss Lake or are in a reading group and planning to discuss it, I thought I’d share a post with some Extras. First off - a playlist, and then an excellent reading group guide that has been put together by the team at Scribner, my publishers in the USA.
Every time I write a new book I build a playlist, adding songs and pieces of music as I go. Sometimes they’re tracks that the characters listen or dance to in the novel and others are more of a soundtrack - capturing a mood at a certain time in the story, or something that I can imagine in the background if the book was a film. I usually blast out a couple of the songs from the 40’s when I sit down to write as it helps get my head into the right era.
So, in case you’re interested, I’ve put them all into one playlist for Dear Miss Lake. I’ve tried to make sure it doesn’t include spoilers, but if you haven’t read the book yet and don’t want even the tiniest of mood clues, wait until you’ve finished it.
If you have read the book I’ve put the tracks in sort of an order. I think you’ll get a good idea of what comes where in the story.
It’s always interesting listening back to the music after the writing is all finished as even if they’re on shuffle I know exactly which part of the the book they’re linked to. In fact as I write this I’m listening to one track that always makes me cry. Actually loads of them do. They don’t have to be sad ones. I’m a cry baby.
At the other extreme, as you may know, London Pride by Noël Coward is sung by Guy at one point in what becomes a raucous singalong. I’ve never found a version that is remotely like that so you’ll have to stretch your imagination, but every time I hear it I can see him at the piano, his hair falling into his eyes and everyone in the room totally behind him for every single word of it, especially the last verse which is about the Blitz. I couldn’t put the lyrics into the book as copyright permissions are a serious old business that you don’t want to muck up, but you can find them here. Or of course listen to it the playlist.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy having a jaunt through some of the tracks.
Let me know in the comments if there are any that leap out at you. I’d love to know what you think. (No spoilers - use code and I’m sure I’ll get it!). Or tell me what other tracks you would include and where. That would be brilliant!
Now then, if you are considering reading the book with a book group, below is the discussion guide I mentioned. It’s really good! It’s all down to Scribner Books and I did absolutely nothing to help on it so I can say that with great confidence. (You can also find it on the publisher’s website here where there’s a short clip of Anna Popplewell reading the audio too - just fab).
The Reading Group Guide
This reading group guide for Dear Miss Lake includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Introduction
Dear Miss Lake is the fourth and final book in AJ Pearce’s The Emmy Lake Chronicles (which includes Dear Mrs. Bird, Yours Cheerfully, and Mrs. Porter Calling), following the ever-determined Emmy as she navigates work, friendship, and life during the final year of World War II.
Amid wartime struggles and personal triumphs, Dear Miss Lake tells the story of Emmy’s fight to amplify the voices of everyday women. As London faces relentless bombings and Britain inches toward victory, Emmy and her colleagues at Woman’s Friend magazine embark on unexpected adventures together.
Topics and Questions for Discussion
1. Over the course of The Emmy Lake Chronicles, Emmy has grown from an unlikely assistant to an advice columnist to a true journalist and steadfast advocate for women. How has she changed since Dear Mrs. Bird? In what ways has she remained the same?
2. Dear Miss Lake captures the exhaustion and resilience of those enduring the final stretch of war. How does Pearce convey the toll of the final years of World War II on the characters and represent the implications of war on our interpersonal lives?
3. The decision to move Woman’s Friend to the countryside provides a fresh setting for the novel. How does this change of environment affect the characters and their relationships?
4. Compare the challenges Emmy faces in Dear Miss Lake with those from previous books. How does this novel continue themes introduced in Dear Mrs. Bird, Yours Cheerfully, and Mrs. Porter Calling? What differences do you notice that speak to Emmy’s personal growth? How does the series represent history during a period of rapid social and political change?
5. Advice columns have played a central role throughout the series. How does Emmy’s work on her column evolve in this book? What does the continued popularity of the magazine’s problem page reveal about the needs and concerns of women at the time?
6. Friendships between women remain cornerstones of the series, particularly Emmy’s relationship with her best friend, Bunty. How has their friendship evolved? What are some of your favorite moments between them in Dear Miss Lake? How does Bunty’s relationship with Harold contrast with Emmy’s relationship with Charles?
8. The letters Emmy receives from readers highlight the unseen struggles of women on the Home Front. Were there any particular letters or reader concerns that stood out to you? How does the magazine’s work reflect and fight against the sexism and classism of the time? Do you think Dear Miss Lake does a good job of uncovering these marginalized histories of women during World War II?
9. With the war nearing its end, the novel hints at an uncertain future. What do you think lies ahead for Emmy and her friends in a post-war world? How do you think their experiences in Dear Miss Lake have changed the mission and impact of Women’s Friend?
10. If you’ve read all four books in the series, what has been your favorite part of Emmy’s journey?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. Explore wartime advice columns: Find vintage issues of women’s magazines or browse online archives to see how real publications supported readers during World War II. Compare them to Emmy’s “Yours Cheerfully” column. Compare them to current news outlets to see how the same themes are covered differently over time.
2. Listen to wartime music: Create a playlist of 1940s songs to set the scene for your discussion.
3. Discuss family histories: If comfortable, invite members to share any family stories from the World War II era. How do these personal histories compare to the experiences depicted in Dear Miss Lake?
4. Imagine the next installment: If AJ Pearce were to write a fifth book in the series, what do you think should happen next?
Good questions aren’t they?! I like that one about a fifth book. I do have a few ideas now you come to mention it….
I hope this is handy. You can find tons of links to retailers for the UK here, the USA here, Canada here, and Australia here.
Oh, and if your reading group/book club/local library fancies a virtual visit from me to chat about this or any of the series, just let me know in the comments below as I’d love to join you. Whack on the playlist, break out the off-the-ration buns, and we’re sorted!
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