Into the Forest discussion

Spoilers are allowed in this thread for our adult novel winner Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Finished.

This is a lovely story. I was thinking at first that the folklore was just in the storytelling done by the characters, but in the end...

Oh, I'm so looking forward to this! If the book I'm currently reading doesn't work out, I may switch to this one.

Thank you to this group for putting this book on my radar. I enjoyed it overall, but I don't think I will reread it in the future. In the beginning, I found the writing beautiful and the story drew me in. I really liked the characters. A minor character, the psychologist (Mrs. Chesterfield if I remember correctly) reminded me of Maisie Dobbs (from Maisie Dobbs). There was a delightful exploration of magic and science, how the natural world is full of mysteries that make us wonder, and how we like to spin tales about the world around us. Unfortunately, the tale dragged for me through the middle...like a meandering river. I was impatient for the rapids toward the end, but I found the ending thoroughly satisfying. I'll probably recommend it to some people.

Melanie wrote: "Thank you to this group for putting this book on my radar. I enjoyed it overall, but I don't think I will reread it in the future. In the beginning, I found the writing beautiful and the story drew..."

Thanks for your feedback Melanie! I know you and I often enjoy the same books, so I am going to take your opinion into consideration.
I ordered it from my library but am still only #155 on 28 copies on the wait list. I was debating buying it, but the last thing I need is another book I am only going to read once on my already over crowded bookshelves!

Hi Jalilah, maybe it'll be available sooner than you'd expect. You might like this book more than me. I think that I was expecting more fantasy/magic, and it doesn't have that, which is fine, but that may have affected my reactions. Also, I think that I might have higher interest in fantasy/magic than you (maybe?).

I am inching my way forward. I'm now #58 on 26 copies on the wait list. I'm moving at a snail's pace, but I'll get there.

I really enjoyed this story. 4 star read for me. I loved how you got to know the individual characters and how all their stories intertwined.

I'm still waiting on a copy.

Margaret wrote: "I'm still waiting on a copy."
Me too and by the looks of it, #130 on 27 copies, I will still have to wait a while!

I'm #25 and the estimated time is 7 weeks. I guess this is the downside of selecting new books! It's hard to read them in time!

I squandered my (borrowed) time. Checked it out 1/31, but I've been so behind on my reading list that I didn't start it until 2/27, the day before it was due back, no renewals. Made it to page 52 and my curiosity was peaked -- mainly by the healer (can't remember her name) character. So I had to re-request it and now I'm #19 of 23 with 63 copies in the system.

Leah wrote: "I squandered my (borrowed) time. Checked it out 1/31, but I've been so behind on my reading list that I didn't start it until 2/27, the day before it was due back, no renewals. Made it to page 52 a..."

I've been there too! I may always be behind on my reading.

I finished it yesterday. I simply loved it. She is a very gifted writer.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have to confess that it brought back a lot of wonderful memories. A tributary of the River Thames flowed at the bottom of our garden in the home where I grew up. I have such lovely memories of taking one of our canoes and rowing down the river. It was so peaceful and beautiful.

The flood at the end of the novel reminded me of the time when the river flooded in the mid to late 1960s. The river totally covered our front and back garden, got into our cellar, but didn't get into the rest of the house. I have a wonderful photo of my mother standing near our garden gate with her Wellington boots with the water nearly reaching the top of her boots. I also have a very vivid memory of the milkman delivering our milk in a row boat. It was a sight for sore eyes! I wish I'd been older and had a camera.

Forgive the stroll down memory lane. I loved the book. And I highly recommend it--even if you've never been on the Thames :)

My 5-star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read it too, and I enjoyed it, although (as usual) I felt that it could have used a little more editing.

I just started and it’s beautifully written. Those who have read it—how much violence against children is there? I may need to stop reading if there’s graphic violence against children

Hi Margaret, I understand your concern. There are no detailed, graphic passages depicting violence against children. There are several lines which refer to children and a woman being neglected, beat, forced to have sex (in the case of the woman), and accidentally killed. All of these are passing mentions, simply to inform readers of what happened (generally in the form of a confession from a villain character). I am also sensitive to this concern, but I don't mind skipping over sections or lines that aren't necessary for me. This is how I remember it. Feel free to set the book aside if it becomes too unpleasant for you. I support reading for pleasure :)

Melanie wrote: "Hi Margaret, I understand your concern. There are no detailed, graphic passages depicting violence against children. There are several lines which refer to children and a woman being neglected, bea..."

Thank you! I think I can handle it. I listened to the first 4 hours at work today. I was worried about the little girl being dead in the beginning. I won't say more because some haven't finished (or started) yet, but my worries have now been relieved. :)

I'll skip parts if they become too much for me. I read a lot of dark fantasy and historical fiction, but since giving birth, I've been sensitive to violence against children. I recently finished a book that gave me nightmares for a week, and I don't want to replicate that!

On a general note, I love the slow pace of this, like the river, and like small town life. I don't always like slow novels, but this one is so well done, with all the character voices written so well. I also enjoy how this could've taken place in any century (except for the current one--cell phones would change the plot).

And such a wonderful study of storytelling!

Hi Margaret:
I just downloaded _Once Upon A River_, so I should be able to post some comments fairly soon. I am traveling right now, and will be away until April 24th. But, I'll join in as soon as I can.

I am also glad to know I don't have to worry about a lot of violence toward children.

More soon....

Sher wrote: "Hi Margaret:
I just downloaded _Once Upon A River_, so I should be able to post some comments fairly soon. I am traveling right now, and will be away until April 24th. But, I'll join in as soon as ..."

Great!

I'm halfway through and still enjoying it quite a bit. I do see Melanie means--areas seem a little too meandering--but overall it's lovely.

I won't finish until this weekend.

Sounds good. It'll take me a few weeks I am sure. Since I am traveling until April 24th. I'm glad to hear you are still enjoying it.

I'm just a little ways into this book, but I am really enjoying the audio version. I love the cadence of the writing as though the story is a story told orally.

I wonder what makes a good storyteller? Some people have the knack and some do not.

I have just reached the part where the man comes into the inn in a rush. Something momentous has happened.

I'm not sure how the narrative millwork. Some have mentioned many characters...I'll post again soon.

Sher wrote: "I'm just a little ways into this book, but I am really enjoying the audio version. I love the cadence of the writing as though the story is a story told orally.

I wonder what makes a good storytel..."

One of the things I noted in my review is Setterfield's uncanny ability to make you feel as if you are listening to a gifted storyteller.

I see, so you felt it too. I will wait to read your review, Tamara, when I am finished. I look forward to it. :)

I finished today in the nick of time (my library audiobook had 2 hours remaining before it would automatically return to the library). It's a gorgeous book. I loved the weaving of folklore and storytelling and how the river threads its way through the stories and the characters. And the characters! So well drawn.

I don't see many books that balance science and folklore quite so well. Neither are disputed, and they both work in harmony.

Overall, it felt like a harmonious book. Every part and person and tale contributing to the bigger story.

I thought I saw someone compare it to The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, but I don't see the comparison now. It's definitely in the same genre, but also more of a traditional (word choice?) historical fiction. Snow Child was written more sparsely, and even though the setting was significant, it didn't play as important a part as in Once Upon a River. Also, Snow Child felt more magical, and River more grounded in reality.

Both were equally good if different.

Margaret wrote: "I thought I saw someone compare it to The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, but I don't see the comparison now. ."

Margaret, I think I may have been the one to compare it to Snow Child. I did so because both novels have a young girl who is shrouded in mystery and who exudes an ethereal quality. But that's as far as the comparison goes, I think.

It's a good comparison! It's interesting how they can have similar plots but be so different.

Hello Tamara and Margaret:
I am almost done with this book. I have enjoyed it so much. It's the kind of book I want to just relax and sink into. The author's craft is marvelous. I love all the threads and the way each thread is like a stream or tributary feeding into the river.

It's beautifully written. My first book with this group, and it's been lovely.

Sher wrote: "Hello Tamara and Margaret:
I am almost done with this book. I have enjoyed it so much. It's the kind of book I want to just relax and sink into. The author's craft is marvelous. I love all the thre..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it, especially since it's your first group read!

It's very immersive.

Sometimes, when a book is that long, I will put off reading it because I have so many ARCs to get through. But after reading a book like this, it makes me wish I made more time for longer books.

Sher wrote: "Hello Tamara and Margaret:
I am almost done with this book. I have enjoyed it so much. It's the kind of book I want to just relax and sink into. The author's craft is marvelous. I love all the thre..."

Sher, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. She is such a great storyteller. I've read one of her other books, The Thirteenth Tale. I thought it was good, but this was a much better book. I want to read her Bellman & Black, which is also supposed to be very good.

Tamara:
When you get ready to read _Bellman_, please let me know if you would like to do a buddy read of that book. I would be interested, if I am able to read it at the same time you are wanting to read it.

Joining this group is my first foray into fiction in a one, long time, so most of 2019 has already been set aside for nonfiction. But, I hope to join in on our next round of reads...

It will be interesting to see what theme win in the poll. Right now - a tie!

Sher wrote: "Tamara:
When you get ready to read _Bellman_, please let me know if you would like to do a buddy read of that book. I would be interested, if I am able to read it at the same time you are wanting t..."

I'll be sure to let you know. It might be a while, though, because I've checked out several books from the library I want to read first.