Sorry to be a spoilsport - I have just bought this after reading through various threads on MN. I haven't got very far but I am finding it utter tosh. Am I being too harsh? There has no been no character or plot development so far (in about 20 pages) and the main character (forgotten his name) is not remotely interesting, one-dimensional and hard to like. The angel is just plain stupid (so far).

Everyone says it gets better - does the writing, plot and character development get better? Should I keep going?

Thank you, sophable old sport!

They look great!

I have just ordered What I Loved and will order 'So i am glad" next.

I love reading!

[[http://www.amazon.co.uk/So-am-Glad-L-Kennedy/dp/0099457210/ref=sr18?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=12451897 21&sr=8-8 and here is the a l kennedy]

god that should read siri hustdvet what i have loved (i think that is the title. her new one is the sorrows of an american i think. i'm going to google and find a link for you, she writes absolutely beautifully.)

i adore rose tremain. my favourite is 'the colour' and i love music and silence.

i was left a bit cold by eucalyptus. dh loved it but i just couldn't feel enough whilst reading it.

other favourites are a l kennedy 'so I am glad'

and siri hustdvet (sp) what is great).

actually so i am glad is a fantastic fantastic book. dark, but has a metaphysical aspect that you might enjoy after vintner's luck.

Yes !

I loved Fugitive Pieces as well but VL is better (or suits me better!)

We like books written by poets.

Have you read Eucalyptus by Murray Bail. I loved that. Very dreamy.

and Music and Silence by Rose Tremain.

yes. billie's kiss is great. but not a patch on VL imo (although it is impossible to beat!).

there is a sequel (gulp) to VL out later this year if you look on amazon. i'm a bit worried about that.

have you read fugitive pieces by anne michaels? it is back in print cause i think they've just made a film of it.

it comes a close second for favourite book.

Have you read any others by her?

I had never heard of her. I picked it up in the library (because I liked the cover )

The part with lucifer was so tense yet fascinating. I think I held my breath through that entire bit.

The last part though where he (Xas) talks about likeness and who he looks like, well, it took my breath away again!

So many beautiful, poetic parts in it as well.

Beautiful and sorrowful.

i think that it is quite hard work at the beginning and then it kicks in and it is just stupendous.

it is a fantastic fantastic book, she writes beautifully.

i particularly loved the description of lucifer and the relationship with the woman (can't remember her name) that had the horrendous 'operation' if you can call it that.

(or was it for dh?)

i loved it too
sophable bought it for me

I just quite literally finished it 10 mins ago and babbled the whole plot to DH who looked fairly interested but not interested enough!

It was amazing!

I read most of it last night until 2 in the morning and then looked forward to finishing it all day.

I so hoped the ending wouldn't be awful and it wasn't.

It was wonderful. in a heartbreaking way.

in face i need to re-read it as i haven't read it for years.

ME!!!!!!!!

IT IS MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF ALL TIME!

if you haven't read it

go and get it off amazon now!