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Original poster

'HER' By Harriet Lane - the book of the summer IMO

79 replies

EduardoBarcelona · 26/05/2014 11:53

If you enjoyed 'Alys, always' - or even if you didn't ( that pleasure awaits you) I can heartily recommend HER.

Written by an early Mumsnetter ( don't think she is on any more) this is the kind of book that you HAVE to read in a day.

You can read much better precis of the plot than I ever could write here on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Harriet-Lane-ebook/dp/B00HRXQ15Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401100959&sr=8-1&keywords=her+harriet and I would recommend this to you as a PREORDER , especially if you love a dual narrative, in the style of Gone Girl.

This, however, is FAR superior writing, you will be itching to highlight bits on your kindle.
It speaks to all of us who have ever wrangled children in fact I was late to work after spending an hour in the bath trying to get to the end. (Bad hair day ensued)

I did chuckle afterwards that you can imagine the whole book as a long AIBU, from two people's viewpoints... just BRILLIANT.

OP posts:
YankNCock · 24/07/2014 23:40

Finished it now. Um....I don't know how I feel about it, didn't expect it to end where it did, feels very unresolved, but I suppose life can be like that....however I'm not sure a psycho taking revenge for a perceived wrong really fits with Emma's side of the story and all her issues with the drudgery of daily life with small children.

I don't feel like I can get inside Nina's head enough to see it from her point of view. From the descriptions we eventually get of her past, it seems she had been manipulating people well before Emma's 'wrong'. How has she gotten as far in life as she has without someone detecting that she's a bit bonkers?

YankNCock · 24/07/2014 09:09

I won a copy in the MN giveaway, got through about 2/3 last night. Interesting, intriguing, yes, but not so much that I could keep my eyes open past eleven - and I'm definitely the type that will read till 2am on a school night if I'm really into a book.

Initial impressions, I do agree it has a MN tone, though I can't decide if I would have picked up on this if I hadn't read some of the comments on this thread. Unfortunately that had the effect of making me think 'there's one for AIBU' at least once it nearly every 'Emma' section so far!

At this point, I do wonder how Emma hasn't clicked that she's met Nina (and Nina's mother?) before. Is it really possible to forget someone so completely? I keep waiting for Emma to say 'you seem familiar somehow', but so far the only glimmer of recognition centres around salad tossing techniques.

Capitola · 23/07/2014 16:10

I have just read it, in one sitting as OP suggested.

Hmmm. Not sure.

It read like a MNer had written it, for sure.

I liked it, but it ended up a book about nothing. Maybe that's what makes it good. I am undecided. I liked the writing style.

Am now reading Alys, always.

Suzannewithaplan · 21/06/2014 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hackmum · 20/06/2014 09:21

Just realised that Thirteen Horses said the same as me about Nina!

hackmum · 20/06/2014 09:21

I've just read Alys, Always and Her, one after the other. Really enjoyed both of them. However, I do think that Nina in Her is awfully like Frances in Alys, Always, ie both seemingly normal women who are highly devious - though in Nina's case, worse than devious.

NickiFury · 18/06/2014 15:59

I am unconvinced that any book could be as good as the fanfare of the OP suggests.

Sallystyle · 18/06/2014 15:03

I was really disappointed.

Yes, it was written wonderfully but the storyline and ending was really disappointing.

I have read many books of this kind and this has to be the worst. Which is a shame as I liked her first book.

dirtyprettything · 18/06/2014 10:10

Just finished it - she is a really great writer - I think I enjoyed that more than the actual plot.
Her descriptions of the tedium of being a mother and the responsibility of it all cut quite close.

I did find it very tense towards the end

ThirteenHorses · 17/06/2014 21:34

Finished it a couple of days ago.

It's worth a read, although I think the key character is very like the protagonist of Alys Always, and the key plot reveal was a bit 'meh'.

Suzannewithaplan · 17/06/2014 11:06

Thirteen, I agree with your point, but I didn't even question the validity of that scenario.
I guess that my enjoyment of the writing enabled me to suspend disbelief?

ophiotaurus · 17/06/2014 11:02

Thanks I'll give it a go. Been looking for something new.

Suzannewithaplan · 17/06/2014 10:54

Just started reading it, enjoying it and finding it easy to get absorbed

Southeastdweller · 17/06/2014 08:27

How're you getting on with it Thirteen?

ThirteenHorses · 14/06/2014 21:06

I downloaded it earlier today, and am a few chapters in.

It's nicely written so far, but a few things jar quite badly - if someone turned up on my doorstep to return my purse I can't really see myself inviting them in, but then I'm antisocial. I can see that someone else might.

But, if the purse-finder was invited in and then, unasked, started making her own tea and loading my dishwasher I would think they were quite unhinged.

So I'm struggling to get absorbed in the storty, because I keep going wtf?

Cantdothisagain · 14/06/2014 16:00

Have finished it but hesitant to include spoilers for other people.

TroyMcClure · 14/06/2014 07:45

Have you finished

Cantdothisagain · 14/06/2014 07:45

Ok I would love to discuss this one but don't want to write a spoiler so will wait. I love the writing but am a bit unconvinced by Nina I think. Or at least by her actions. I enjoy her voice.

And I completely disagree with the amazon reviewer who says Emma and Nina both sound the same - they don't.

TroyMcClure · 12/06/2014 22:54

Yes. I hated. Sadly. Didn't finish

Cantdothisagain · 12/06/2014 22:20

Reading this now... It's v good so far...

Provencalroseparadox · 12/06/2014 21:49

Looking forward to this. I liked AA. Have you read new Jonas Jonasson yet? I enjoyed

Southeastdweller · 12/06/2014 21:35

The raves on the jacket pulled me in so I reserved this from my library and should be ready to collect on Monday - very excited.

TroyMcClure · 12/06/2014 18:59

just checked back on this thread and then on amazon. it seems to be out!

MyNewNormal · 08/06/2014 22:57

Looking forward to reading this. Thanks OP.

Original poster
EduardoBarcelona · 28/05/2014 17:29

Darker. Not a good story but shit writing like say gone girl of that ilk.

Now you'll hate it. I KNOW! Grin

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