1.Look at the front cover and observe it. How do you relate the title to the picture?
In the cover there are one boy and one girl. They are falling in love. The boy embrace his girlfriend and they are seeing the lake. In the middle of cover there's a title with a green letters and under the title there's the writer's name.
2.Most of the story takes place in Tredonald, Wales. Find information about this coal mining village.With the Industrial Revolution ( 17th and 18th c ) , coal mining, a tiny industry in the 15th century, became a national and international industry. Thus, the 19th century was a century of massive expansion for the coal industry in Wales. But the end of the 20th century brought almost universe closure. Find information about 1984 miners' strike.
The miners' strike of 1984/1985 was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. Coal was a nationalised industry and, as in most of Europe, was heavily subsidised. The strike became a symbolic struggle, since the miners' union was one of the strongest in the country. In the coal of mines, miners working a lot of hours a day, and was very dangerous.
Chapter 1: Two young lives.-" Life was not easy for the Thomas family." Why ? ( 3 lines )
Life is not easy for the Thomas family, because his mother died when Huw was born. A few times ago, his older brother, Richard, was killed in the war. All this tragedy, was completed when his father began to drink and he had not got a job. Only Huw and his brother had a job to earn some money to eat.
Richard Thomas had been killed while fighting in North Africa in 1943. Which war was it ?
This war was The second world war, one of the most strong and hard war of the history.
In chapter 1 we know that Megan and Huw are good friends. Describe the moment
She and Huw had been friends for years. They used to sit together at school, and out of school they spent a lot of time with each other. Now their friendship seemed to be getting even stronger.
Chapter 2: The friendship continues
In this chapter Megan and Huw take a decision about their relationship. Explain it. Why do they take it?Until now, Megan and Huw were friends. But one afternoon, Huw said Megan if she wanted to be her girlfriend. Megan said yes, but with one condition, that nobody know their relation.
Chapter 3: Romance grows.
"This Saturday was going to be a night to remember." ( page 15 ) Why?
Because Huw and Megan, this Saturday went alone to see a film, they were able to walk the street holding their hands. Also into the cinema they kissed without nobody looking at their.
Chapter 4: Death at the mine
After the first four chapters, how would you define the relationship between Huw and his brother?
Huw and his brother have a strong relation because their mother died sometimes ago and another brother died in the war, so that, they were alone to take care of their father. Gareth looked after Huw for all this time.
Chapter 6: A surprise find
Megan finds the letters Huw had sent her 50 years before, in 1946 and 1947. Imagine Meg's father was still alive and that you are Meg. What would you tell him?
In the first letter Meg asks Huw: " Do you think he wanted me to find them when it was to late?". What do you think?Can you tell me why did you hid the letter that Huw sent to me? You didn't like Huw because you thought that he wasn't able to give me all I need, but I only need his love. You told me that it was the right think for me but it's my life and I choose how to live it.
I think that her father hidden the letters, because he believed that Megan never found did. He only wanted broke up the relationship with Huw.
Chapter 7: Time to decide
Before leaving Tredonald, Huw told Megan : "in a year ...I'll come back here and we'll get married..." ( pag.23 ); but things turned out to be completely different. Why ?
Because Megan's father hidden the letter that Huw sent to her. So that Megan didn't know anything about him. Huw neither received notices from Megan. So, Huw and Megan began a new life. Megan in Tredonald with her daughter and Huw in Toronto where he married and has a son. But now Huw is divorced.
Chapter 8: Telling Beth
Find some information about Cardiff (3 lines) and post a picture.
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous country in Wales. The city of Cardiff is the country of the historic country of Glamorgan. Cardiff is part of the Eurocities network of the largest European cities.
The name Cardiff and its Welsh equivalent Caerdydd are both believed by most modern experts to derive from post- Roman Brythonic words meaning “the fort of the Taff”. Dydd” or Diff” are both modifications of “Taff”, the river on which Cardiff Castle stands, with the T mutating to D in Welsh.
Chapter 10: Writing back
Meg is about to get married. In spite of that, she lets Huw visit her and her daughter. Why does she act that way? Do you think she does it for Beth or for herself?
I think that Megan let Huw to come Tredonald, for one side, because she want to see Huw. She still loves him. And the other side, because, Beth at the same time meets her father. This situation remembers when years ago, Megan's father, doesn't let the relation with Huw. And now she doesn't want to do the same as her father did.
Chapter 12: A new starWhat's Meg's present job?
Megan was a teacher. But now she takes groups of visitors on tours down the mine coal of Tredonald.
Why does Huw tell her “ you always were a fighter, weren't you?”?
Because when she knew that the mine was going to close, she tried to do something about it and she fight a lot.
Do you think two people can still be love after 50 years without seeing each other?
I think that the love between Huw and Megan finished some years ago, because if they really were in love, they didn't tire out her love easily and they didn't look after somebody to marry.
Chapter 17: Time to go
Imagie the conversation between Paul and Megan the moment she tells him that she is still in love with Huw. Write it down
Paul: What's the matter with you Megan? Are you sure that you really wants to marry me yet?
Megan: Why do you think this?
Paul: Because if you were alone until now, its due to you are in love of him actually. You really hope that day.
Megan: You are all right Paul. I'm sorry for you. I wish you lovely and pleasant live. In spite of that we can have a friend relation if you want of course.
Paul: OK, Megan really I want but the live will be so different you know, I supposed that it will happen.
Did you like the book? Why ? What did you learn by reading it?
Yes, I like it because it shows the several miner life in the years 1946- 1970. It's hard book, because Huw, lost every all his family and this make him to be stronger. But he is able to find job and to be a great artist. His life change because he wants to change it. The book is interesting for me, it shows the cruel reality of the poor society that time. This book is easy to read, but until the end of it, we don't know what's going to happen.
