The author has described The Redgum River Retreat as her love letter to motherhood. How is motherhood explored in the novel? How does this resemble your own experience of motherhood, either as a mother, or as a child?

Sarah carries a lot of guilt over the accident. Do you think she has come to terms with this by the end of the novel? What evidence is there that she has/hasn’t?

Were you aware of the Snapshots From Home League before reading this novel? If you were away at war, what type of photo would you request?

Music is a strong thread running through the novel. Have you ever felt healed or comforted by music and why do you think that is? 

Ryan makes a seemingly rash decision to throw away his very successful career. Do you think he did the right thing? Have you ever wanted to start over like this?

Do you think Henry was driven by love, or duty, or some other force? 

Was Edward justified in keeping the truth from Rosalie and Albert? Have you ever had to keep the truth from someone, and if so, why did you choose to do so?

Edward says to Sarah, ‘Sometimes when we go looking for the truth, what we find isn’t what we expect. What we find is pain.’ Were Sarah and Rosalie better off knowing the truth? 

Rosalie says, ‘How could you make peace with a past whose pieces could never be put back together?’ Do you think by the end of the novel she has made peace with her past? How did she? Or why couldn’t she?

Sandie Docker is known for her bittersweet endings. How is The Redgum River Retreat like her other novels in this regard? Do you like a bittersweet ending, or do you prefer your endings tied up in a neat pink bow?