Trans-Atlantic Bibliophiles discussion

Hi all,
I'm picking these books up today and will be passing them out. Holly, you can take it on your trip!

I really loved this book. Give it a chapter or so to get used to the way the character writes (it's a journal), but I really think you'll like it.

The books are due on June 13. I've posted four discussion questions to think about. I'm excited to talk about this book!

I should have my copy from the library in the next day or two.

Books are due on June 13, and there are three copies checked out still. Hope you enjoy(ed)it!

It has been very quiet on here. Do you still want me to pick up the next book in a couple of weeks, or do you all want to take a break over the summer?

I'll finally put down my comments on the book. I really liked it a lot. It started a bit slow, and I slowed down reading it, and then... Something happened. It moved, and I cared about the characters. Gave me a newfound respect for the hardships that settlers endured.

That said, I think it was also a bit contrived - too much happened to one person (possible, but maybe a bit unlikely?). I know people might have been tougher then - they had to be, family and friends died all the time and it wouldn't have been uncommon, Indian raids happened, etc. But all in a few months? The only acknowledgement that it was hard to deal with was the mother's (temporary) breakdown. And even that was just temporary.

With several week's hindsight, contrary to my initial thoughts, I probably won't read the sequel(s); I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster with her and I don't want to get on again. I loved her (at least) good relationship with the captain, and I don't want to know if she has another. She seemed to come to peace with her kids, and I don't want to know if it gets worse.

So, in sum, well done on choosing another fab book, I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to the next!

BTW, I'm sorry I didn't go about this by answering the questions, but I don't seem to think in that direction; first person works for me as I often WANT to be the character for a bit of the time. I like diary-based books as I think they are an excellent way to get into someone's head and still have the observation of other people and events. I can't remember the rest. Pat

is.

Yay! Thank you for posting!

I too loved the book, but also had some of the same thoughts you did. The woman the book was based on never actually kept a journal, so a lot of this is fiction surrounding an actual person. That's fine, and I'm sure it made the story more interesting in parts, but I agree that this seems like an incredibly eventful life for one person.

The questions I posted were just prompts, from a book club notebook the library provided with the books. They made me feel pretty un-introspective when I read them, but then thought I must just be dumber than the average reader. I hate being too analytical with books--I just like to get lost in them for no reason at all.

so what is the next title? :-)

I've started folders for each of the next three books, along with dates we're starting them. "Life of Pi" is the next one and starts June 22.

I finally sat down and read this book in a couple of days. I generally enjoyed the book. I loved Sarah. Her life was a bit too tragic for me at times. I always like strong women. I have to say that I was sometimes frustrated by Sarah's stupidity about her relationships. I get frustrated in books, movies, and television shows when a girl/woman doesn't get it. Although I know that women back then were extremely naive when it came to relationships. I love the character of Suzanne and the sisterly relationship that she and Sarah had. I too, like Diane, usually just read a book to get lost in it and in much of it I was caught up. At the end, when Captain Elliot died, I felt angry. Hadn't they been through enough? I always enjoy books that are written about a different time period and went away feeling so glad, again, that I live now instead of back then! Falling ceilings and centipedes, rattle snakes in your home and no running water in the house. Yuck!!! Thanks for choosing this book Diane!

Last Request--there are still three copies of the book checked out. All are due by this Saturday, the 13th. If you can't get out to the library, give me a call and I'll be happy to pick it up and drop it off for you.

Thanks!

I'll bring mine back to the library today.
Thanks,
Susan

Diane, I turned my book in! Thanks for all you do!

I know I'm way late in commenting on the book, but I figured better late than never. I did get the book in the day before it was due...sorry not sooner Diane! I enjoyed the book overall. I don't think I would read it again though. I did love the fact that she finally found her love, but hated that she was so oblivious to everything regarding love or feelings other than the anger that she felt. Sometimes I wanted to say, "Wake up! Don't you realize what is happening!?" But, I guess there are people out there like that; who knows. Thanks for the book Diane!