The Wonder discussion

I'm on page 207 & this book has me on the edge of my seat.

I loved it.

I finished it & I loved it!

I didn't care for it. Found it mostly grim, boring and repetitive. Then I guess the ending is supposed to redeem it, but for me it was just laughable. As if the author were saying, ok, you read through this awful book, but I'll give you a sappy happy ending so everyone will feel good and say how wonderful this book was.

Sorry, Emma, I didn't buy it!

yup loved it too, the end was perfect, yes the first 40% was a little repetitive but still it was great

Did anyone else identify with the girl damaging herself because of hidden sins? I thought that was powerful.

I just finished, and honestly I didn't like the first half very much. I almost stopped reading it as I just found it boring and the characters were all very hard to like or care about. But about half way through I thought there started to be some character development for Lib and I began to feel invested in Anna's story. I was glad I finished it, but it wasn't one of the best books I have read recently. The religious aspect to Anna's story was fascinating and so incredibly sad, the power that her guilt and sin held over her. The statement about Catholicism and families that was grim, but the end was hopeful enough that I didn't finish feeling depressed.

I thought it was very well written. I would recommend this as a book group discussion book.

I really enjoyed this book and even purchased it as a holiday gift for an Irish friend. I'm not a particular fan of Donoghue but was impressed with this book.

I loved this book even more than "Room" which everyone raved about. I admit it was depressing at times, but I still really loved it.

I felt that it was hard to get into, but it did get better towards the end ! I'm glad I kept reading

I really enjoyed it but did feel the end was a bit of a let down. I expected something more though I can't quite articulate what. I did enjoy it though and I will read more from her.

I finished this a while ago. I had sort of mixed feelings, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, this book fell somewhere in the grey area.

Claudette wrote: "I didn't care for it. Found it mostly grim, boring and repetitive. Then I guess the ending is supposed to redeem it, but for me it was just laughable. As if the author were saying, ok, you read thr..."

I have to agree, Claudette! It was much too repetitive and the foreshadowing was glaringly obvious.

I quite liked it, but not up to her usual standards imho.

I loved it. I thought it was a different spin on historical fiction and as a non religious person myself found the religious elements very interesting.

I did not love this book. The first 1/2 was boring, and repetitive. Basically everything people already said. The second 1/2 was more interesting but sometimes I think I read just to finish it as opposed to figure out what happens next. I had to remind myself that the time period for the ending predates access to information like birth certificates and passports so it was plausible but it wrapped up a little too neatly and too quickly. She could have taken out most of the first 1/2 of the book and developed the second half more.

I enjoyed it, and thought that any repetition therein served the plot. Much like the litany of prayers heard from the family and the priest. (A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation.) Not everyone's cup of tea though.

I found it quite dull and bland, and I didn't really like any of the characters. I was annoyed that I was still compelled to keep reading to find out how the girl was surviving. If it weren't for that mystery I would have stopped reading much earlier.

like other readers, i found the first part of it to be a bit dull and didn't like it but when o'donoghue hit the middle section of the book, i found my self getting more and more intrigued and interested. at the end it kind of tapered off but i think a 4 star rating is a fair rating for it.

I thought this was a marvellous book. The author conveyed the claustrophobic atmosphere of the cottage superbly and at times my heart was in my mouth as I felt I was watching the child's life hanging in the balance.

yep, not a favorite or one I would recommend

I listened to an audio version. I couldn't finish it. The first half was so repetitive - It could have been cut in half. At first I was curious about the 'mystery' but I had no interest in listening to the rest of the book to find out what it was. I'll find out at my book group and from reading spoilers. So many books, too little time to invest in something that doesn't interest me. I love the author's writing. Her stories - not so much.

The Wonder was brilliant. Yes, I'm of few words.

Bsusie10 wrote: "I listened to an audio version. I couldn't finish it. The first half was so repetitive - It could have been cut in half. At first I was curious about the 'mystery' but I had no interest in listenin..."

I did too, couldn't get into it but I had to finish it! Ended up liking it but wouldn't ever read it again.

Adriana wrote: "I loved it."
I didn't like it as much as frog music but I did like it was a completely different read which I like to see in author. there ability not to stick to the same writing style with every book.

I agree, Emma Donoghue is a virtuoso in the range and variety of her voices. Loved Slammerkin, for example.

Anne wrote: "I agree, Emma Donoghue is a virtuoso in the range and variety of her voices. Loved Slammerkin, for example."
I might try that one soon. Did you like Frog Music?

I did, an unusual setting and story. I always look out for anything by this writer.

I loved Frog Music

Claudette wrote: "I didn't care for it. Found it mostly grim, boring and repetitive. Then I guess the ending is supposed to redeem it, but for me it was just laughable. As if the author were saying, ok, you read thr..."
me too...and ihated having to read pages of praise before i was allowed to read. attempting me to find it incredible. worst read in a long time. Also, the ending was so unrealistic. they could have made it realistic for that ending but did not bother. two prominent figures don't just disapear and can't be found with said girl.

Mopple wrote: "Claudette wrote: "I didn't care for it. Found it mostly grim, boring and repetitive. Then I guess the ending is supposed to redeem it, but for me it was just laughable. As if the author were saying..."

I don't think reading the 'pages of praise' is mandatory...

Thank goodness! I'd rather they put them at the back, personally x

I found this book to give a glimpse into a sick world consumed by religious mania, a young girls abuse that was not acknowledged and her finding a way out of her torment the only way she knew how. I loved that Lib challenged those beliefs, I was routing for her the whole time! I appreciated how the author told her love story it was simple and private, it didn't take away from her love of this young innocent girl. I can agree that it was repetitive in the first to middle part, but I feel the author was portraying Lib's thought pattern as if kept running over and over through her brain. The ending was so fantastic, it is a recommended read from me!!

I have to say this was my least favorite of her books. Room is #1 and I just finished Frog Music. It is at #2 so far.
The Wonder was just too much of nothing for me.
Drawn out and then when something "big" was revealed...it kind of came in as an afterthought and wasn't brought the attention I felt it needed.

I was utterly spellbound when reading this book. Being an Irish woman, brought up as a Catholic, it had a special resonance for me and I was gripped by the general community, living in the aftermath of the Great Hunger. Overall I loved it, my only criticism is that it dragged slightly in parts.

The good people by Hannah Kent a good companion piece . Similar theme

On par wth ‘Room’ that is, better than average but only slightly.

I wonder why it was written

I just finished this and found it fascinating, heartbreaking and thought provoking, I thought the slowness in parts echoed the stretched out minutes of a child slowly starving. Its the first book of hers I've read I may well pick up more of hers.

Cathie wrote: "I just finished this and found it fascinating, heartbreaking and thought provoking, I thought the slowness in parts echoed the stretched out minutes of a child slowly starving. Its the first book o..." Yes, it was essentially a mystery, the slow parts I believe gave the reader to examine what was actually going on.

I did not enjoy this book at all, it was boring, repetitive and too slow. The ending was ridiculously obvious. It is tiresome how writers find sexual assaults to be the "to go"bad story of caractures, be more creative!

just ok, I didn't even leave a review

I personally loved it. I thought the author captured the period perfectly and interwove true elements in a very delicate way.