Buddy Reads discussion

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When she read those two pages, I thought that her mom didn't
really die. That the reports were wrong somehow, but no.

It was all in her head, huh?

Her mom wasn't normal and she just got into their heads.

I couldn't keep it together when I read this:

Our reporter understands that Eleanor Smyth initially managed to free herself and escape the blaze. Neighbours then reported seeing the badly injured ten-year-old re-entering the house before the emergency services arrived. Firefighters allegedly found her attempting to open a locked wardrobe in an upstairs bedroom. The body of her four-year-old sister was recovered inside.

She needed help for so long, and yet so one was up for it. Raymond has been a true friend. He stood by her through all of it. Most of the characters were really encouraging and supportive expect perhaps the colleagues and the strangers. Glen is a good thing for her too, so was Maria.

P.S. I guess I hoped she'd tell Raymond to try and quit smoking since she herself disapproved if it.

I loved the Mummy-ending. At first I was a bit underwhelmed: a phone call, that's it?? But the end completely made up for that.
I'm with you Aqsa, when I read about her dying in the fire, I re-read it a couple of times, like my mind needed time to integrate that piece of information lol. It just couldn't be right, could it?

I loved the writer's message (my edition had an interview at the end): the importance of enjoying the small things in life and our tiny acts of kindness towards other people.

There was a statement or a question which made me think and I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on it:

Is knowing always better than not knowing?

I don't know. Maybe I wanted her mother to be real so that when she finally let her go, it'd be something more. But I suppose this was more too. Her mother was haunting her so badly. Glad she threw her out.

That question really is amazing. I read that somehwhere though I don't think there was an interview in my edition.

We are curious beings and we love to find out everything. Mostly about people. But sometimes I guess truth should be hidden to save someone while at other times it should not be concealed at all. But either way, the truth will be in the open someday. It always does come out.

The question was in the book not in the interview, so you’re right about having it read Aqsa.

But if it eventually comes out anyway, isn’t it better to have it out there from the start. Isn’t there extra damage when finding out later? I mean, than you have the damage from whatever was held back from you and on top of that the feeling that everything has been a lie.
Looking back in my own life I don’t have any instances of wishing I hadn’t known that (unless it’s something horrible that has absolutely nothing to do with me or the ones I love) but there are some things I wish I had known sooner/from the start because I would have made other decisions about my life....

Not necessarily. Sometimes some people need time to be able to face the truth. To be ready for it. In most scenarios, it is better to have the truth out. But just sometimes it is better to wait. One doesn't have to lie but one doesn'tnecessarily have to tell the truth at those times.

For example not telling a patient certain things and take things one step at a time. Not telling a child certain things. Or first preparing others for it.

I agree with you too and there have been times when I wished I'd known things sooner or known that I was being lied too. But there have also been times when I wished I didn't know certain stuff.

But I suppose in the end it all depends on the case
It's different every time.

I actually couldn't believe her mother had died too and that it was all in her mind, really didn't expect that to happen!

It makes you think how badly haunted Eleanor has been since her mother died, I don't know how she coped for all those years, being verbally abused in her own mind by her mother

And when I read that part Aqsa, about her trying to free her sister from a locked wardrobe, I couldn't believe what I was reading, knowing that her little sister was put there and left there, it's cruel that no child should ever have to face, and yet there are harsh circumstances out there

And then there Raymond, I was hoping for a little romance to happen, but I guess it's implied which I actually liked, I only wish there was more to her story. I wanted to see how she will go with her life now that the past is no longer haunting her

I really liked this book, even tho it took me a while to read, I'll read it again

Yeah me too!
It took a moment for that to sink it!

It's so good that you loved it!!
:)

I just finished it today. I was so surprised by the ending, I'm not even sure what to say. I was a little hesitant at first with this book (it's just so different from anything I've ever read), but I felt that I was enjoying the story more as it progressed on. Eleanor's character development is so well done and genuine. Raymond deserves a medal. He saved her life in more ways than one. Their friendship, for me, was the most enjoyable aspect of the story (along with the lovely Miss Glen, of course). It's such a beautiful story and so tragic all the same. That ending, finding out the details about her sister, tore my heart out. I'm just so glad that she was able to find healing, and start her life afresh.

I'm glad you liked it Kelly. It really is a unique story but good all the same :)