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LightShinesInTheDarkness' choice: TSN by AP

Discuss

Really struggled with this book and didn't enjoy it. Honestly I can't see how/why it won a Pulitzer Prize. I totally missed the point of the whole story which the back cover touts as a "comedy" . Not sure what else to say atm. Maybe when I've thought about it some more I'll add further comments.

I have just received this from Swissmiss but have already read it. And tbh, I have to agree with Swissmiss. It was a while ago so would otherwise re-read it but it sticks in my mind as a book that I really would not want to read again as it was v. hard going and I didn't think of it as a comedy either. Sorry !

LSITD - I assume you enjoyed it. Would be great to hear your thoughts on it.

I don't want everyone to hate my book!

I would not have called the book a comedy either, but I found it really atmospheric, loved the settings and the relationships.

Have you read 'Brokeback Mountain' by the same author? I loved that as well, but it is a very different read from TSN.

LightShines.... Wouldn't say I hated it but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Haven't read Brokeback, tbh, never even seen it in book form, just the film.

Have you seen TSN film? If so what did you think? How does it compare to the novel?

I didn't realise brokeback mountain was by the same author - that said, I haven't read the book or seen the film.

I wouldn't say I hated it either. Am sure others won't either.

Lightshines I am going to buck the trend here and say that I really liked this book! It did take a while to grow on me but once it did then I began to love the writing and the story.
I thought the writing was beautiful and descriptive without seeming overworked or over the top. I love it when you read something and feel the writer has captured something that you had only a vague hold of but they have made it something more concrete. I felt I learned something about a faraway place I may never visit but know something of the beauty and harshness of living there. I also loved the descriptions and illustrations of the knots at the beginning of each chapter and how they tied (no pun intended) into the chapter's events.
It was interesting to think about a female writer and how she has written about a male character and in a mainly male environment.
I did see the comedy, although it is quite subtle, in the book and the party at Nutbeem's in particular made laugh. Also I loved how every now and then there was a sentence written like a newspaper headline to summarize the situation.
I am going to put a book of her short stories on my Christmas list so thank you Lightshines for this choice

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Thanks, Cathcat. I feel much better knowing that!! Like you, there was something about the flow of the writing that just carried me along.

Ive just finished this book and have to add that I really enjoyed it too! Ididnt think it would be my cup of tea either,but thats whats good about the book circle -its forcing me out of my book comfort zone.
I found it very atmospheric and loved the descriptions of Newfoundland. I really cared about all the characters ,particularly the protagonist and although Ive never seen the film I did have Kevin Spacey in my head and he's far easier on the eye than the author depicts in the book.
Cant wait for the next book now (postal strike permitting!)

headintheclouds - I have seen the film as well as enjoying the book, and found it to be quite faithful to the atmosphere of the book.

There is also an Anita Shreve novel called 'Strange Fits of Passion' which I felt captured the same loneliness of place as TSN.

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ok finally getting round to writing what I think of this book

Much apologies for delay

Have to say I absolutely loved it too and would go as far as to say its one of my favourites from our book circle so far!!

Did not realisae the author also wrote Brokeback Mountain though

Loved the characters and thought it incredibly well written

I've read this before, but I did read it again as my memories of it were rather vague. I have to say I found it much funnier this time round. It is quite a dark story in some ways, but I think it's also quite heart-warming in the way the characters develop and grow closer to each other.

It also made me want to visit Newfoundland, which is not something I would have imagined - there's something very appealing in the way she describes its bleakness, and the strength of the landscape and harsh weather.

I'm definitely going to look out for some more of the author's books at the library next time I go...

Sorry I never had the time to read this one.

This was my 2nd time of trying to read TSN and once more I couldn't get on with it. Maybe I didn't give it chance, as life was quite hectic when I had the book and I just found it too hard to get into when I really needed a 'simple' read!
DH on the other hand read it and loved it!