Play Book Tag discussion

I really admire this book. The structure is confusing at first, but once I got my bearings (I read a couple reviews), it was a relatively fast read. It was very satisfying read. It helped me to understand the structure, so I summarized it below. The book is not really about what I expected it to be about. It's better. The big payoff comes near the end when you put all the pieces together. It's not a whodunit, but in the end, I felt like I read a good mystery. This book isn't biographical fiction (as far as I know it's not based on real people), but I might argue that it's a book ABOUT Bio-fiction. I don't think I will ever read a novel based on a real person the same way again. I will also think about this book whenever I read a memoir or autobiography.

Who should read this book?
You might like this book if you like books about "the woman behind the man," books about rich people, writers, interesting women, music lovers, finance, power, perception and manipulation. Those who like historical fiction or books about the 1920's-1930's.

The structure of the book: It's written as 4 books in one, involving the same people.
1) The first book is a novel based loosely about a rich couple.
2) The second book is the rich man's version of the story, as told to a ghostwriter.
3) The third is a memoir by the ghost writer who is later trying to put all the pieces together.
4) The fourth is a journal by the rich woman, in which we learn the truth about her life (and death).

I liked books 3 and 4 the best, but they are all necessary. For me, the most interesting part is the DIFFERENCES between the stories told by different people. The first two books are presented to us as fiction, and the last two are presented to us as the truth about the characters. (Of course, it's all fiction).

I saw a lot of buzz about this book and have been kinda drawn to it, but none of what you mentioned were what I thought the book was about. And I based my assumptions of the book purely on the cover and where I saw the buzz so not particularly fool-proof data points 😂

I like the breakdown you described. Sounds different... will add it to the long list!

I haven't been seeing glowing reviews of this and unlike others, I didn't like In the Distance, but your review makes this sound so interesting that I'm drawn to it.

I know. The blurb primarily describes the first book, but that's only the beginning. The rest of the layers are really interesting. I was attracted to the time period, and liked the description of the financial manipulations that contributed to the stock market crash. I was a participant in stock market "bubbles" in the 90's and 00's, which made the topic much more interesting to me.

The book included a lot of other issues that PBT members might find interesting. I tried to hint at them without providing any spoilers. The female characters in the story were a lot more interesting than they first appeared to be.

Booknblues wrote: "I haven't been seeing glowing reviews of this and unlike others, I didn't like In the Distance, but your review makes this sound so interesting that I'm drawn to it."

I'm not sure others will see the same things in it that I did. Take a look at other reviews too before you decide. Joy's review helped reduce my confusion when I was about to quit at the beginning of story 2.

I started In the Distance, but I didn't get very far before I just HAD to put it down. I saw a review that described it as relentlessly depressing, and I thought, "nope, not for me, not now." I figured I would try again another day.

NancyJ wrote: "The structure of the book: It's written as 4 books in one, involving the same people.
1) The first book is a novel based loosely about a rich couple.
2) The second book is the rich man's version of the story, as told to a ghostwriter.
3) The third is a memoir by the ghost writer who is later trying to put all the pieces together.
4) The fourth is a journal by the rich woman, in which we learn the truth about her life (and death)...."

This is very nicely summarized, Nancy. I think if I had known the 4 perspectives going into it, I may have enjoyed it more, but I was trying to figure it all out as I went along, and found it tough going. I read it very early before there were many reviews. I think your review will be helpful to others.

Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "The structure of the book: It's written as 4 books in one, involving the same people.
1) The first book is a novel based loosely about a rich couple.
2) The second book is the rich m..."

Thanks Joy. Your review clarified the structure for me while I was reading it, and another review revealed a helpful "spoiler" about what she saw as the ultimate meaning of the book.