'Her' by Harriet Lane

[FernieB]

Anyone else read this? I've just finished it and whilst I enjoyed the build up of the relationship between the 2 women, I found the end to be unsatisfactory. Anyone else?

[Sylviecat]

I agree. The relationship was well written and absorbing.. but the end was just odd! And totally unbelievable really. I enjoyed the authors writing style alot , very readable. But the plot was too far fetched.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Yep, disappointing. Didn't make sense that one remembered the other straightaway and the other never made any connection, apart from anything else.

[Newyearsunresolutions]

Yes I agree too, I thought the ending was terrible. It was so rushed and abrupt. I even told my Sister who I pass books onto not to bother reading it because it was so rubbish. The whole reason for her behaviour was ridiculous.

[mmack]

That's what I thought too. She is a very good writer and she built up the sense of suspense really well for the first half of the novel but the ending was pointless. Has anyone read Alys, Always? I'm trying to decide if I will give Harriet Lane another chance.

[FernieB]

Oh good, not just me then. I got to the end and wondered if I'd missed something or if my book was missing a few pages. I didn't really see what the problem between them was anyway, it all seemed to be a very childish grudge held over a total non-event. I was thinking it was building up to be something really terrible. I think the author had the idea for the scenario but hadn't plotted out the details.

I also thought it was odd that only one of them remembered the other. They were teenagers when they last saw each other, not 2 year olds.

[hackmum]

I think the idea was that the woman narrating the story was mentally ill in some way. The other woman didn't remember her because the connection between them was very casual but the narrator had built this connection up into a very big thing over the years (trying not to give too much away here). You only realise quite how disturbed the narrator is towards the end when you learn how they knew each other.

[cosmicglittergirl]

Was thinking of getting this, but might save myself the bother if it's disappointing. Shame, it sounded good.

[DuchessofMalfi]

I read it last year and really enjoyed it. There's a sense of unease that builds very slowly. Disturbing, and yes she definitely has a mental illness. It's a good story.

[BouleSheet]

I am halfway through but cannot get into it. Am abandoning it!

[BouleSheet]

I didn't finish "Alys, Always" either. Maybe Harriet Lane is not for me.

[AliceLidlLovesWindlePoons]

I didn't think the motive was plausible for that level of revenge.

Which still could have been worked around if something else had been worked in to explain it. Some kind of breakdown or mental illness, but nothing at all was given. Just, you pissed me off slightly, I shall ruin your life for no discernible reason. There must have been some kind of mental illness, but it was never properly explained.

I think a childish grudge over a non-event sums it up perfectly, which is a shame as I liked Alys, Always and was hoping for better.

I can understand how the one might have forgotten the other though. I had someone come up to me in the street a few years ago, talking about our time at school together.

I have no idea who she was, can't remember ever speaking to her at school and have no idea how she remembered or recognised me. I wasn't exactly popular at the time, so nothing memorable about me all these years later.