The Big Bath Read 2014 discussion

The time has come! Let the discussion begin!

This is the thread for talking about the book freely, using spoilers.

If you haven't finished (or started) the book, you might want to stay on the other thread -- without spoilers.

Go!

*sounds klaxon*

I'm going to kick this off with a link to the Amazon reviews in case that inspires anyone…

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Sea-Chang...

And I will start with this: I did love this book -- but I thought the WWII strand was *much* stronger than the tsunami strand. In fact maybe the whole book could have lived without the tsunami strand. Or would that have made no sense?

You are talking about Violet as the "main character", right? For me it felt more like it was Freda who was the one who had the affair -- I was very caught up in Vi's love for Pete and I felt it was more genuine than Freda's, which felt more opportunistic and desperate. Pete is a morally ambiguous character -- we don't know quite what to make of him. I thought that was a bold choice for a debut novel.

The tsunami bit was necessary because it revealed the "secret" Vi had been keeping -- it allowed us to see her story at one remove. But it was difficult to mesh the two stories together, especially as I think the reader was far more emotionally invested in the Imber story. Without the tsunami story, though, the novel would not have made its most profound point: that the repercussions of certain events and losses resonate across the decades.

In conclusion: I loved it despite the tsunami.

Viv wrote: "In conclusion: I loved it despite the tsunami."

I didn't love it, but I liked it despite the tsunami. Agree with you and Ruthjlee that I was far more interested in the WW2 storyline and, in fact, got a little bit annoyed every time I found myself back with Alice.

At one point, I found myself wondering how Vi could have kept the secret for so long and not found some opportune moment to explain things but then a) the time period was not today and b) it was in England! But as I thought about this, it reminded me of this story in the New York Times: Secret Histories: In an age of lessening privacy, some family secrets persist.

Wow, Suzanne, that is a great point about secrecy and "the olden days" (as my children call them -- referring to everything that happened before approximately 2009). I also thought that somehow she wanted to kid herself that it was true and "make it right". But that is probably just me going on a flight of fancy. And, yes, good point. Everyone is English in this book so they do not talk to each other openly about anything and that is seen as totally normal. :)

Just read that link to the New York Times piece - amazing. Thank you. I'm going to get the GQ guy's book.

Also mentioned is Emma Brockes' She Gave Me the Gun (Nora Ephron suggested the title), the true story of her mother's extraordinary secret life -- here's my review:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/bo...

It's harrowing but brilliant.

Wow, that does sound an amazing story and book. Great review!

Just finished and having resisted peeking, I really wanted to see what you thought here! I agree this is Violet's story and the tsunami seems less real. But the novel's structure is quite ambitious and demands the two strands weaving together towards resolution. I like the parallels between the situations Violet and Alice find themselves in and that often (apart from the tense)when starting a chapter you can't tell which one you're reading about. The Violet/Martha/Freda relationship seems much more vivid, particularly the sisters, than the one between Violet and Alice. Being British, I can believe Violet would keep her secret for so long, but was outraged Martha wasn't allowed another relationship once widowed! And it breaks my heart to think of all those books being ruined by the damp! The death of Violet's father and his burial in a rapidly deserted village is moving. Love the haunting sense of place in Imber and, like Viv, the cover.

Everything I thought, beautifully articulated, Clairethinking! As you say, the tsunami storyline has flaws and is not as compelling -- but it would not have been half the book it was without it. In fact I don't think it could have worked at all -- there would have been no reveal. And, yes, down with the ruin of the books! I think I found the loss of Imber the most moving thing of all -- Joanna Rossiter captures that wonderfully -- and so originally.

OK, I have to ask. Did anyone think Freda was pregnant when she ran away to London (with Pete's help)? The references to eating pickles and the crying in the bedroom ...

YES! #pickles

Yes, absolutely! And did you see the reveal coming?

But did you think she was pregnant with Alice? It just felt like a long time between the pickles reference and then the announcement that she was pregnant.

And yes, I did see the big reveal coming a long way off!

Pete was such a weird character for me. I couldn't understand him deciding to leave his own lover and child to go back and take care of his Mum and sister.

Ah, sorry confusing when the pickles came in...I didn't think she was pregnant when she first left. Grieving and needing to break away? But pregnant when she came back to the broken-down cottage in Wilton.

I thought the reveal was fairly obvious but perhaps the question was why? Seems like Freda wanted to possess the man Vi loved, even though she didn't love him herself, which maybe is why Pete left her. He's rootless and mixed up, but I agree he comes across as weak in the end.

WEAK PETE. WEAK PETE. WEAK PETE.

Although I also fancied him a bit.

That's the quintessential bad boy element in him!!

When he started copying out lines of poetry I thought he might be like the gorgeous Stephen in I Capture the Castle.

Sorely disappointed on that front...

I really enjoyed the story but did lack interest slightly in Alice's parts. I found myself wanting to jump in and stick up for Violet when we were told about Freda and Pete. I'm still a bit confused about the motive behind them getting together in the start as Freda always seems to speak negatively about him and Pete obviously lead strong feelings for Violet, as he kissed her.
I would also be very interested to know if Jo Rossiter has a sister as I am the younger sister and in some parts, struggled to actually believe some of their interactions. It might just be me, but I found myself unable to understand how Violet was so accepting of the situation, even in her internal monologues. Also, I found myself searching for Freda's initial motives behind getting with Pete long after I finished the book.
However, I struggled to stop reading most nights and didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you, Absolutely, for that post. I love the puzzle of this book! "I struggled to stop reading" and yet so many questions! This seems to be everyone's reaction. I will find out next month if Jo Rossiter has a sister (she'll be at Bath). My own take on it was that it was like Freda was living out the rivalry between the two sisters by using Pete - because she knew Violet liked him. Pete was too weak to see what was happening. And in the end Freda's game went wrong because she kind of fell in love with Pete. I felt like Pete didn't really care about either of them and was just open to going with the flow. BAD PETE.