We are all completely besides ourselves

I loved it

But I felt really cheated by We are Liars once it became clear what the end was.

I finished WACBO last night.
I did find it thought-provoking, but it did not suck me in as much as I would have liked.
I am in no way an animal-welfare activist (heck, I am not even vegetarian), but I do think it is worth-while thinking about how cruel the human animal is to other creatures just because 'we can'.
I did think that Fern's fate was heart-breaking and I did not really warm to Rosemary who clearly was a poor soul too, but maybe had too much 'uncanny valley' about her.
Not one I am going to reread, I and reread a lot of books.

We are Liars became less gripping for me once it became clear what the big event had been and I could not understand the motivation. I mean I get what she was cross about/suffering under, but why on earth anybody would ever have thought what they did was a good idea (even teenagers!) I could just not follow. Lost me after that.

I read We Are Liars at about the same time and was more moved by that, although found the end lacking.

When I saw the title of this thread I remembered that I'd read it a few weeks ago but couldn't for the life of me remember what it was about! Yes, that's how much it stuck with me! I had to read quite a few PPs to jog my memory. Having said that, I found it interesting.

As it happens, there's an interesting article on thd BBC website today about the founder of Chester zoo, with a few good links.

I'm not sure what I think about this book. I got through the first 30% (am reading on my Kindle) on my flight home last week - was really enjoying it. Have got well past "the twist" but it seems to be going off on tangents not related to the original plot so I'm not progressing as quickly as I would like to. Am at about 60% now and I will persevere - so I hope it doesn't disappoint.

Agree with a previous poster who drew a comparison to John Irving - I only read one of his books (A prayer for Owen Meany) and will probably never read another.

I hadn't read reviews and I wouldn't have read it if I'd known the subject matter. I agree a bit polemic in places but quite an eye opener for me. So I liked it.

I did not see the twist coming in 'We're all completely beside ourselves', but am now dreading the rest of it

I'm not sure if I can be bothered to finish it, it seems so 'adolescent' in style

I've just finished it and I really didn't like it. For me, bits of it were dull, bits of it were disturbing, and some bits seemed to be included just to bulk out the story but without serving any real purpose.

However, I know that this is a bit of a 'marmite' book. If you like the writing style and have warmed to Rosemary then finish it off.

Ok, it's on my kindle as well now.

I think I have to stop looking at this thread

The Casual Vacancy is one of the worst books I have ever read.
Just goes to show we don't all like the same things!

The Casual Vacancy was much better written that this boring tome.

You lot just made me stick in on my kindle, darn you

I was underwhelmed by 'We were liars' too - I saw the twist coming and thought it was rather predictable (although I do now want to lead the life of East Coast millionaires.

J.K.Rowling, eh? I am alway interested in recommendations from 'real' people rather than book reviewers and best seller lists.

I didn't really like this book.

Agree that the 'twist' occurs early on, and after that,you think something more unexpected / heroic/unnerving ? will happen... and it doesn't.

It all just went a bit bland, tbh. Shame. Hope others do enjoy it though.

Read J K Rowlings casual vacancy, and a few lines in that made me cry. It was bloody fantastic, reread it this week and it was fab.

I knew nothing about the twist, which I think is a good thing. I really enjoyed the book and found it touching and unusual (in a good way). Nice resolution to the end without the need for all 'happy' either.
Knowing the subject matter would not have put me off either.

I'm halfway through this it's ok, but seems rather transparently being used as a vehicle for certain ideas about human nature, a way of communicating the current theories about personhood.

As for the twist, coming so early on does it even quality as a twist?

Summary so far, mildly entertaining but unsophisticated.

I enjoyed it very much. It's also very thought provoking-it makes you think about an issue that's very rarely discussed. I like the way her memories of being five were so hazy and the way she was filling in the gaps.
Also it had some very witty one-liners. My favourite was when she says "Lets pause here for a moment to imagine how a person who felt imposed on by vampires in 1979 feels today." That quote is not a spoiler btw-the twist is not vampire related.

I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not the best book of the year, but hardly the worst.

Didn't like the twist, didn't like the characters, found it rather tedious to be honest. Felt it coudl have gone a lot further than it did, considering the twist and what that does to the reader. Real potential but never got there.

I really enjoyed it. Found the twist a bit and in equal measure and felt a bit like I was reading the book version of Dawn of the Planet of the A%$s (just in case anyone still is in the dark!). I'm not an animal lover by any stretch, but I liked this a lot. Not amazing, but def worth reading IMO.

how a twist as you find out 1/3 of the way in??? either way it was OK, readable but bemused at to why people "rave" about it

I was relieved about the twist! I was thinking about a real human twin whose family hated it or something. I liked this book. Took it on holiday it was perfect and loads better than We were Liars which I was underwhelmed by.