Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Discuss the characters here . . .

So far I have been having problems telling which character's point of view we are currently in. I will get a few pages in to a section, and suddenly realize we are looking at things from the eyes from a different character.

If I remember correctly, don't the scenes inside the prison all come from one POV of one of the prisoners? Then you have the stuff with the woman outside the prison as well.

Justin wrote: "If I remember correctly, don't the scenes inside the prison all come from one POV of one of the prisoners? Then you have the stuff with the woman outside the prison as well."

That is correct - I just am never quite sure which POV I happen to be in at the time. It is getting easier the farther I get in the book. When it is from the woman's point of view it is usually much easier to tell right away.

What are your thoughts on how vague their crimes are presented? Do you wish you knew more about what got them to where they are, or are you cool with just knowing more of who they've become on the inside?

Justin wrote: "What are your thoughts on how vague their crimes are presented? Do you wish you knew more about what got them to where they are, or are you cool with just knowing more of who they've become on the..."

I am definitely curious and I keep wondering if I will find out. But, I get the impression that what exactly they did is not as important as the fact that it was bad enough (view spoiler)[to get them on Death Row (hide spoiler)]

I was wondering, too, if the author didn't want our opinions change by the nature of their crime. Maybe she only wants the facts presented in the novel to be the keys in how we feel and respond to the characters.

Yeah, I saw an interesting review where the writer was upset that she seemed to ignore the past of the prisoners as if she didn't want the reader to dwell on it. The focus seems to be more on who they are now. I think some get caught up in the author's agenda rather than just enjoying the book.

I will say that I enjoyed the characters and their back stories. I think they were one of the highlights for me. It was some of the other elements and the structure of the novel that threw me off.