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APRIL BOOK OF THE MONTH DISCUSSION NIGHT - come here for Fall on Your Knees chat on Tuesday 29th April

102 replies

TillyBookClub · 23/04/2008 21:05

This is the thread to come to for April's Bookclub chat - we'll be kicking off at 8pm on Tuesday 29th April and discussing the brilliant Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie Macdonald.

And just a reminder that you can now vote for May's bookclub choice on our May Book of the Month page - we have six very prestigious Orange Prize shortlisters up there for the taking, so get voting now...

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CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:05

I found it very strange, the ghost of Ambrose coming to Lily in the night. Were we supposed to take that literally?

sophiewd · 29/04/2008 21:05

Going to have to go now.

Tilly good luck for next month, let us know how you get on won't you.

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TillyBookClub · 29/04/2008 21:05

icod, that's great, we should email Ben and let him know.

I think you;re all spot on with Mercedes - her position depends on Frances being unhappy. And she can't face change, she's so frightened of what it will feel like for Frances to be free of her that she'll do anything to keep things the way they should be. she is the most damaged character, by far.

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SquonkTheBeerGuru · 29/04/2008 21:07

do you think she was the most damaged character because she wasn't abused by James?

Arti · 29/04/2008 21:09

Hi All. Sorry I'm soooo-had a nightmare time getting DD off to sleep!
Anyway....have just caught up with the chat so far. very interesting...
I found the book really well written and gripping but deeply disturbing. Interesting points made about Mercedes and her motivations for giving away the baby. I didn't like Mercedes very much as a character, but wondered whether she had convinced herself initially that keeping the baby would be a good idea, but then, after realising the "badness" that was in her father (?at the point where she pushed him down the stairs), she thought it would be best for the baby to keep it away from a cursed family. Looking at it this way, maybe there are parallels to Frances sending Lily away.

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:12

Poor Lily, walking walking in her little boots.

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TillyBookClub · 29/04/2008 21:12

yes, will let you know sophiewd - and will catch up with you at the next book group hopefully (will be just before you're due I guess?)

I think james' refusal to touch her was probably a part of it, yes. I think Mercedes always felt rejected and different, and his disinterest must have confirmed that.

I kept wondering if there was anything that could have saved them, that might have brought the family back together in some way. It does seem as if Frances' baby might do that, but I wasn't sure why james was so happy about having a little baby about the place all of a sudden.

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billybass · 29/04/2008 21:14

Everyone,how did the book end?

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TillyBookClub · 29/04/2008 21:16

I wasn't able to get the author here tonight but out of interest, what would you all like to ask her, if you had the chance?

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CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:17

Maybe he saw it as a chance for redemption?

Or maybe he just thought thank the Lord, this one isn't one of mine!

FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:18

I'd be interested to hear whether she felt anything could have saved Frances from going down the route she did. I found the apparent indifference in her family to her behaviour really difficult to come to terms with.

FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:19

Coco, I wondered about redemption - this time I'm going to get it right?

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:20

I think they found Frances a bit scary though. And Mercedes, at least, had no real idea of what had happened with Frances and the twins.

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 29/04/2008 21:20

I suppose I would ask whether she is aware/planned that it is a difficult book to read, especially when you do have children.

And does she think she would have been able to write it had she had kids of her own.

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:21

Yes Flossie, and maybe, with him being a boy, he would?

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:23

Although the writer has/had no children of her own, I think she did seem aware of what the characters had lost. I didn't feel it made her less empathetic (is it a word?).

She was saying life can be, and is, very cruel sometimes, and stuff happens, bad stuff. Here's some for you.

FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:24

I'm sure the review I read described The Way The Crow Flies as being a sequel...

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:24

Because I do have children, I found the 'baptism' scene particularly heart-breaking though.

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 29/04/2008 21:25

dp home (at last) so am going to switch off puter and make him a brew and soothe his tired muscles.

See you all next month. Have voted for next month's book, but I don't really mind, am getting so much pleasure out of books I wouldn't ordinarily read, I'm not too bothered if my book makes it or not.

CocodeBear · 29/04/2008 21:25

that you have it on your bookshelf, Flossie!

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TillyBookClub · 29/04/2008 21:27

billybass, the book ends with Frances' son Anthony appearing at Lily's door and giving her a family tree that Mercedes has sent him (she's just died). Lily opens it and everyone learns where they come from. Its redemptive in that Anthony learns who his mother was, and how wonderful she was, and that Lily has a connection to the last part of her family. Its a happy ending of sorts.,.

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FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:29

Nope, not a sequel at all. Must be figment of my imagination.

I say that because despite the family tree scene, for me this was really one of those books where I wanted to know "what happened next" - because the family felt so damaged by what had happened that I felt like I needed more than just that scene to restore any sort of hope for the future!

FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:31

(minor hijack) Coco, I actually requested The Way The Crow Flies when I was about halfway through Fall.. as I thought I would really want to read on - but then when it actually arrived I was reading 5 books at once!! Happy to lend if you'd like?(/hijack ends)

FlossieTCake · 29/04/2008 21:32

Oh, the baptism was devastating. When James hauls her away from the creek and she is struggling to get back again....

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TillyBookClub · 29/04/2008 21:33

Know what you mean Flossie - I wanted the balance to be redressed a bit more than just Lily and Anthony having a cuppa together.

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