Trans-Atlantic Bibliophiles discussion

Let's get a discussion started for those who have already read it. There will be several more of us adding in our two cents over the next few weeks.

Please post once you've read it, and I'll chime in. I can write my comments now, but it won't be too much of discussion with just me.

Finished it last night.

I liked it a lot and I thought it was very well done, especially the group psychology aspect and how corosive it can be. But I'm just not sure I 'got' it all the way; there seemed to me to be loose ends. Or maybe there are meant to be?

Not sure how much to write as I don't want to ruin it by putting in too much detail, but if it's OK, then I'll be more explicit in my comments.

**SPOILERS**

I finished it tonight. I agree with you, Pat, though the group psychology aspect felt very forced to me. The nasty little game they played immediately turned ugly, when I'm not so sure that would be the case in real life. I just feel like something was edited out that would have made some of these transitions smoother, and it's lacking for it.

I did love the Torrington childrens' characters, though found little redeeming in Charlotte. Her transformation to doting, selfless woman rang hollow to me. Emerald was a great character, though, as was Smudge/Imogen.

Travis is going to read it next, so I'm interested to see what his impressions are.

CONTAINS SPOILERS!!

Maybe it was a take on Lord of the Flies, adult style? Our socialization wouldn't let us behave like this, at least I don't think it would.

I (stupidly) can't remember anyone's names now, but I liked the brother of the girl who went to school with Emerald. To me he seemed the only realistic and honest character. BUT, was this meant to be realistic?!

So, now I can ask: Were all the uninvited guests dead? If yes, why would the railway man ask the family to take them? If no, why were they so passive? I mean, just basics like water and a toilet... Don't mean to be stupid, but these are just some of the things I didn't understand!

**More Spoilers**

Yes, they were all dead. The railway man wasn't really a railway man. I believe it was the bad guy in disguise, or some such thing.

I think more than anything I just really enjoyed the process of reading this book. And I liked the author's writing style and use of words. I liked the children's characters the most, especially Smudge. I can just imagine her sneaking the horse through the house.

**Spoilers**

I loved that part too, Em. The part I'm not clear on is what happened to Charlie? Florence stayed with Charlotte in her room and was carrying a poker. The next thing you know they say he's gone for good. They couldn't have killed him, obviously, so did he just disappear?

But do you remember Pat, when Charlie was in Charlotte's room and he morphed into the train porter, then demonstrated how he could mimic all the voices that were heard on the telephone? He orchestrated the entire thing. He alluded that the other "guests" followed him up there, but they arrived first. Little things like that confused me.

I loved the relationship between Ernest and Patience--such loyal siblings. I was surprised that Patience ended up with Clovis, since he had very few redeeming moments, but I was very glad that Emerald ended up with Ernest instead of John Buchanan. The whole lust thing between John and Florence didn't ring true at all for me. And everyone besides John seemed to take Charlotte's "sordid past" in stride, which also didn't seem very realistic considering the times. When I think of Downton Abbey and the huge fuss they made about Lady Mary's indiscretion, I would imagine the young people would be a bit more scandalized.

And did Charlie somehow remain in existence long enough to fabricate some dead aunt of Horace's? He must have! That or someone else is Smudge's father, which I doubt. I don't know if Charlie or Horace was really the father, but a huge sum of money left just to Charlotte and Smudge would have to involve Charlie after that evening, wouldn't it? Very confused about all that, and it tied it up a bit too neatly for me. I would have preferred that after such an insane night, they would be ready to relinquish the house and move on.

But besides those little blips, I really did enjoy reading it. I liked her writing style very much, and loved her character development. I didn't allow myself to peek ahead, and really didn't have a clue what would happen next at some point. I knew the survivors were dead from the very beginning, but thought Charlie might be the devil or something. I wish Charlotte had been less callous and self-absorbed, but Emerald was lovely.

**Continuing with spoilers**

AAAHHH!!! OK, I didn't get that he had imitated all f the train people, etc. I guessed some of the people were dead, but then didn't really think about it any more. It was all just not so clear for me. Much better now.

I also thought - notwithstanding I knew Charlie was dead - that she had resigned herself to 'giving herself' to him again in order to make him go away. I thought, in a way, that was more in character, but maybe not. Maybe she was tougher than I expected. Weird parenting skills. But if she thought Smudge could have been his, it would explain some of her ambivalence to Smudge.

Yes, I agree totally: liked the writing style, liked the character development to an extent - the ambiguity was a little difficult, and I guess as I read it awhile ago, I am not keeping it all clear in my mind - and I like some of the period history stuff. Yes, Diane, you're right, they were quite accepting of things that would not have been accepted, and at first I thought it was because they were her kids, but I don't think so. I think maybe it was just that dream sequence kind of thing. They just did it.

Anyway, I am glad I read it, I'd try something else of hers.

What's next!!?? (BTW, Emily, I'm on # 10 or 11 of the Dresden books.... Do you think I need to cold turkey them? :) Actually, I think I only have 3 or 4 left, so that will be my cold turkey - no more!!)

I didn't get a chance to read this. But I would love to get in on the next one. What are you reading next?

Does anyone else plan on reading this? Should we pick another book already? I know Emily read "Bowling Avenue" by Ann Shayn, and I have a copy now. It won't be available in your library probably (it's self-published), so you would need to get it from Amazon. It's about $11. She's the co-author of the Mason-Dixon knitting books and blog.

I'm open to suggestions, or we can wait for a few more to read "The Uninvited Guests."

I'm good for anything. Please let me know what the plan is!!

How do you feel about reading "The Casual Vacancy" by JK Rowling as our next book? It comes out in late September, and there will no doubt be some good deals on it if you want to buy it. I know we'll be getting a copy, as Travis and I are both excited to read it.

Sally and Angie are reading "The Uninvited Guests" now, so hopefully there will be more discussion on our current book to come!

That sounds like a great next book to read.

Okey dokey. I'll put it on my late September list!!!

Kind of waiting for the first reviews to come in of "The Casual Vacancy" on Amazon.com. Hoping it's great, worried it might not be. Buy it, or wait for my library copy (in six months or so, probably!)?

Ummm, what should I do? I was just going to get it when it is released on Kindle int eh US (waiting for it here will be around Xmas, I think). Should I wait until you say GO!!! :)

I finished 'The Uninvited Guests' a few nights ago and I thought it was an interesting read, but I was confused with some of it. I didn't know the guests were dead until the end. Why did they come dead and stay in a room all day and never really do anything? Did they know they were dead? I thought the whole Charlie thing was strange, how she saw his face on the stairs but it wasn't really him, but he saved them- what? At first I thought they dug up his body and it was on the stairs. Crazy.
Smudge and the horse were the best part of the book for me, funny but sad at the same time.

Awesome reviews--so glad you read the most recent book! You've all had a chance to read reviews of "The Casual Vacancy" by now, I'm guessing. What's the verdict? Do you still want that to be our next choice?

Wow, I was JUST thinking about you and wondering. I'm good for anything!! Just let me know.

I'm game to read it, but not sure how many in the actual book club want to read it. Maybe we should make another choice, and then we can compare notes on our regular Goodreads reviews. Anyone up for "The Three Musketeers"?

Oh, yippee!!! Please note, if you do read The Three Musketeers, PLEASE give it a chance. The beginning is a bit boring as Dumas is setting the background of story and frankly, Gascon detail is a bit boring. But it picks up, has everything (love interests, intrigue, murder, adventure etc)and it's pretty historically accurate! (I used it as the basis for a French history paper in university YEARS ago and got a great mark - and didn't look up anything else, so it must have been accurate!!)

I think I'll read the Rowling book as well and we can write a quick note on that. It should prove... Interesting!!

I read it years ago back in Chicago because you read it, Pat! I remember you telling me how much you loved it, so I walked to the library on my way to the train after work and started checking the books in the series out. Still one of my all-time favorite books, but I'm way overdue for another read-through.

Three Musketeers is our legacy book! It was a gift to me from Diane. Who read it because of Pat. Whoa!!

I actually just re-read it (well, listened to it) and loved it all over again.

I'm still up for Casual Vacancy. I'll need to track down a copy.

Has anyone read The Country Girls trilogy?

Hadn't heard of it. Is it a bit Maeve Binchy-ish? I went from being something like 135 on the hold list for "The Casual Vacancy" at the library to 34 in just a few days. I think a lot of people are rethinking it. I'm still curious enough to give it a try.

Could be Binchy-esque. So far it's mostly a depressing Irish book about two schoolgirls. Drunks and drownings and such. But I'm not too far into it, so there is still time for me to love it. I'll let you know!

Ah, it's great to know that I can find some books which have something of a universal appeal.... I can seriously recommend the Dresden File books :)!!

I have my book group book for here to read this weekend (The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas, who I think you both recommended, then I'll get the Casual Vacancy. In the meantime, if we change it for another (I haven't re-read the 3 Musq in ages, so I'm overdue for a re-read), just let me know!!!