Just finished reading Nora Webster (may include spoilers)

[tobee]

I just finished this and did a quick search on here to see what other mumsnetters thought but couldn't find much. My mum and a friend both mentioned that they found it a bit of a slog to read. I didn't find this at all but it was an odd book with slightly strange and uneven pacing in places. (Down to editing?) Nora wasn't entirely sympathetic but I'm happy to read books about characters like that. That's what everyone's like, aren't they? Her character was unable to communicate with her friends and family how she felt but maybe that was characteristic of her generation?

Anyone care to share their thoughts?

[MermaidofZennor]

I didn't warm to it. Didn't like Brooklyn either particularly. I've read other books by Colm Toibin and liked them but I loathed Nora as a character - she actually made me angry.

[Clawdy]

He is a good writer, but when my book group read this last month, most of us disliked Nora. I found her selfish and rather hard. Couldn't believe she would send a damaged child away to boarding school. And leaving the two young sons with her aunt for three months without a visit.

[MermaidofZennor]

That's exactly how I felt about her. Selfish and cold towards her children.

[OnlyHereForTheCamping]

I kept waiting for something to happen

[MermaidofZennor]

I've concluded that I have a bit of a love hate relationship with Colm Toibin's novels. No to Brooklyn and Nora Webster, but The Blackwater Lightship was really good and I loved it. Equally his short story collection The Empty Family was enjoyable.

[Clawdy]

Yes, I really liked the Blackwater Lightship too. Might try the short stories. My sister loves the Testament of Mary but for some reason I've never read it, I know it's very short, so no excuse really.

[MermaidofZennor]

I wasn't so sure about the Testament of Mary. It was beautifully written but I didn't like it that much. He wrote one about Henry James, can't remember the title, but that one appeals.

[tobee]

Ah I was just coming on to ask what people preferred. I have Blackwater Lightship.