Persephone Books discussion

Our January buddy read is The Happy Tree

I will be reading this book towards the middle of the month. Have 2 IRL bookclub books to read first,

I'm hoping to finish deepening stream this weekend, and then I will get to this one next week.

I started this tonight, and though I haven't got far, I think it's going to be a good one.

Have to finish my current one, and then this is next.. looking forward to it.

OK I just burst out laughing starting this - when the narrator described being in your 40s as similar to approaching death or being executed ! I'm not sure if the title is ironic but if this is some moody enterprise I have a feeling it will make me feel better about my own life and being in my 40s!

I had the same reaction; I recently turned 50 and was equally surprised as she was, even though I was obviously as aware, as she was to gain her 40's.

Oh my goodness, and then describing going to school at age ten as akin to going to war! Oy.

Yup- I felt absolutely ancient after reading about her turning 40. I am really liking the tone of the book. It’s reminding me a bit of the Elizabeth Taylor book I just finished- A Game of Hide and Seek.

It'been a long time since I read A Game of Hide and Seek, but I can see what you mean about Elizabeth Taylor. The writing in this book is much more spare than Taylor, who can paint a vivid picture of the minutiae of everyday life, but the tone is very similar.

I am up to part three now which is page 190 in my version and I am about fed up with Helen! My oh my, talk about being a passive receptor in life. What is strange is that so many people close to her tried to tell her what she really wanted and she rejected that, but why? I can only think that is partly because of what happened with her parents with her father dying early and her mother abandoning her - she wanted answers at whatever cost. I'll finish this up soon and I'll move my last posts to the finishing thread.

I read the proposal scene last night. She says she knew straight away it was a mistake, so why go ahead! She could have broken it off in a day or two, (not straight after their first kiss). I suppose that would have been far riskier back then

Tania wrote: "I read the proposal scene last night. She says she knew straight away it was a mistake, so why go ahead! She could have broken it off in a day or two, (not straight after their first kiss). I suppo..."

What was even crazier was that she admitted it to Walter at that time and he was fine with it! Maybe he felt she was out of his league and was willing to accept that. I think gender roles and the time period had a lot to do with it - she probably was reticent to speak up about her true feelings to Hugo. How old was she at this point?

At a guess, 20/21 ish. I think she's roughly the same age as Hugo, maybe slightly younger, and at this point they have just recently left University.

I got the impression that Walter thought she was out of his league too. Maybe he hoped with time she would come to love him.