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first time TTC ?!! The suggested book club over here!!

75 replies

crunchynutter · 05/08/2008 18:27

hi ladies crunchy here! Log In your name if you find our new club hehe

So first book- has been decided we are all currently ordering and the time and date of our first chat is to be Confirmed- how exciting! Xxxx

OP posts:
crunchynutter · 09/08/2008 10:00

Reading Notes

Download PDF Please use the following to discuss in your groups.

  1. In the first section of the book, how does Pippa Lee live up to being 'the icon of the Artist's Wife'?

  2. How would you describe the difference between Pippa's relationship with her son, Ben, and her daughter, Grace?

  3. Why does Pippa suspect Moira is having an affair?

  4. How important is Suki's behaviour in the development of Pippa's early character?

  5. At what point do you think Pippa's life in New York becomes dangerous?

  6. Why do you think Pippa feels as though Herb 'saves' her and in turn, what does Herb see in Pippa?

  7. What do Pippa's dreams represent, in your opinion?

  8. First Suki, then Gigi, now Moira. How is self destructive behaviour explored in the book?

  9. Why do you think The Private Lives of Pippa Lee appeals so strongly to women?

  10. How do you envisage the film of The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, currently in production, differing from the book, if at all?

ok that is what is on the website- doesnt mean much to me as i havent read the book yet! If any of you think it is spoiling anything please delete my post, i will not mind at all!!

I think we should try to be here Thursday at 7 to discuss however much we can then and if any one can't make it then they can just add their say when they can make it and we will all respond when we get chance (obviously the questions aren't rigid and i am by no means suggesting we have to discuss those and those alone it might just help give our read and chat a focus!)

Enjoy ladies! I am off to shop for my party tonight and hopefully will get chance to start my new books soon! i am soooo excited lol!

Crunchy xx

OP posts:
DawnAS · 10/08/2008 20:46

Hi Crunchy et al!!

The questions look good, although can I add one to begin with, maybe what our "First Impressions" were of the book. I've started reading it and strangely, thinking that it was going to be one that I could get into straight away, haven't felt as pulled to it as I normally would be - strange!!

xx

crunchynutter · 10/08/2008 21:56

I have read the first chapter so far. It agree itnis not the narrative style I was expecting! I don't know if that is good or bad at this point so we shall defintly start with that question and I shall keep Reading!

OP posts:
bluestarlavender · 11/08/2008 14:09

Hi guys,

Well I'm on page 67 of the book. I really like it, but it's written in a very 'dry' way, if that makes sense. I also find I have to read a little bit and then think about it for a little bit. I'm not sure what you all think, but I find it quite descriptive, while nothing is actually happening. I guess it's really more of a study in relationships. I was reading another book - Babbit by Sinclair Lewis and I find the writing styles a little similar...so that's my first impressions.

BSL x

crunchynutter · 11/08/2008 19:47

I'm on the Grace chapter-I was enjoying it this morning before baby sitting And am looking forward to Reading tonight while my DH watches the olympics!

I must admit, I quite like the 'dry' narrative you meniondx and can't help comparing it to Arthur millers style-he too is a great explorer of relationships and the human psche so I am looking forward to seeing how re story develops! Xx

OP posts:
Bonifacio · 12/08/2008 06:27

Shit, I forgot to go and buy the book! I will do it today!! I am happy to post whenever I am available!!

crunchynutter · 13/08/2008 13:16

Ok so I will definitly have finished this book by our 7 o'clock meeting tomorrow! It is interesting isn't it?!

I will not spoil anything if people haven't finished though... We will discuss as much as people are happy too! I have ideas for our possible next book too LOL shall look forward to our chat tomorrow! Xx

OP posts:
DawnAS · 13/08/2008 15:44

Hi all,

I'm getting into the book a bit more now. I struggled initially as it didn't really grip me immediately. I don't always get on with books that I have to work at, purely because I read for pleasure.

But at least something like the book-club will force me to read something, that I may end up enjoying.

I'm at the stage in the book where I feel I need to read more to get the answers. There are a lot of questions in my head about it and I'm hoping to find the answers in the next few chapters.

I've finished the Grace chapter so am on to The Little Death now. Having a bath and chill out evening (no cinema now as my brother's GF is working) so I should get a bit closer to the end.

I bought a Cecelia Aherne book at the weekend. I love her books too. I read PS. I Love You first and that really got me into them!!

xxx

crunchynutter · 13/08/2008 19:11

I have lent ps Iove you to my nan- it's fantastic isn't it! I love that book!

OP posts:
DawnAS · 14/08/2008 17:04

Hello all,

Really sorry about this guys but I may need to cry off tonight. With the lack of sleep I may try and get an early night after a nice bath (and it's BD night... not quite so pleasant when your back is so painful...).

I may join at 7pm but if I manage to get to sleep, I'd rather not set an alarm to get up again, I'm sure you girls understand!

I'll try and give my initial thoughts and views though to get you started. I'm about half way through and Pippa has just made the first house-move (trying to be cryptic in case people haven't read that far).

I have to admit that the book took a funny turn for me. This was what I thought when I first started to read the book:-

Pippa was a younger woman married to an older man who was quite rich (due to his successful career). I imagined that she had had a very glamorous life, from a child and I really didn't know where the story was going. But when the book jumped back to her childhood, the whole outlook of the book changed. I just wasn't imagining that family life at all!! I'd expected a typical 2.4 children family life with Mum that stayed at home and Dad that went out and did a normal job. The only inkling that I had that something wasn't quite right, was Pippa's reaction to Grace. Now I think I'm starting to understand why she was the way she was with her.

It's taken me a while to get into the book but I'm really liking it now!

The other shocking bit for me (probably again because of my completely incorrect assumptions of Pippa's upbringing) was the part about visiting the night-club with Trish and Kat. I wasn't expecting that at all!!

Her relationship with her father is strange aswell, almost as if he's scared to get too close to her because of the way her mother will react. And what a bizarre way of domination, the way that Pippa dominates her Mother with literally just a look. Trying to get her Mother to look scared.

All I can say is, what a dysfunctional family unit - one that I never imagined!!

xxxx

bluestarlavender · 14/08/2008 18:59

Guys, I have to bail too! I meant to message earlier, but I have to go out for dinner tonight as it was my dad's birthday on Tuesday...of course it has to be when I already have plans!!

I'm currently up to page 136 and am really liking the book! I find Pippa interesting and feel alot of affinity to her. Every time something goes wrong, Pippa runs away! She never hangs around to deal with the consequences of her actions. She seems very passive about her sexuality, but obviously uses it to get what she wants.

She also uses her anger at her mother as justification for bad behaviour. She hates that her mother is addicted to diet pills, and yet deliberately takes pills and speed herself. I find that a bit hypocritcial. She feels she has a right to her anger at her mother and also uses her mother's behaviour as an excuse to follow suit!

I think we should arrange another session for next week when we've all finished the book!

crunchynutter · 14/08/2008 19:06

that sounds good to me-I have finished it and wouldn't want to say anything that spoils it for everyone else. I should be good for next week though. Justet me know when!xx

OP posts:
summerbird · 14/08/2008 20:03

Hi there just popping my head around the door, although i am not a great reader you have all inspired me a little, so i am going to keep popping in to say hi and if you start on a book i like then i will join in if thats ok, i am currently reading a trashy novel (Laura Weisberger - All the right people) which is a bit rubbish!

I bought a Richard n Judy recommended one today 'East of the Sun' by Julia Gregson which looks quite good, i like books set in the 20/30s

Enjoy Pippa Lee ladies!

x

crunchynutter · 14/08/2008 20:36

hello! I read that one (isn't it the follow on from the devil wears prada?) I found it quite funny and easy to read but I agree it's not particularly memorable! I did enjoy it for what it was though. I have quite a high tolerance for books though! I tend to always find somethig k like and have never given up-I read alsorts too. Don't particularly have a genre I stick too! I really am a book worm LOL

OP posts:
bluestarlavender · 18/08/2008 09:23

Hi guys,

I managed to finish Pippa over the weekend! What did you guys all think??

BSL x

DawnAS · 18/08/2008 18:31

Hi BSL,

I finished Pippa yesterday aswell.

It was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, considering my first impressions. I just wasn't expecting half of it to be honest.

I enjoyed it and didn't struggle to read it like I thought I might as it wasn't a page turner for me at the beginning. But by the time they flipped back to her past, my whole view of the book changed.

What did you think?

I've just started on a Cecelia Aherne book. Hopefully I'll finish it this week if it's really good!!

xxx

crunchynutter · 18/08/2008 19:41

I was shocked a lot too. I think I made a lot of presumptions based on the first part of the story. Ie younger woman, rich old man, perfect 'stepford' wife to the family fitting in with the whole artists wife image. I was shocked by the sexual side especially between pippa and her mother. Feeding from a bottle at 16 and the inappropriare photos as. Child made me a little uncomfortable-not what I has expected at all!

I was also shocked by the ending (even though I 'felt' it coming I didn't want it to!). Herb had definitly saved her in a sense and I am a die hard romantic so I was upset by the affair.

However, I think herb liked to feel like the powerful protagonist and father figure. He seemed to choose to sleep with women with mental health issues and I think this pattern told us a lot about the power issues this character had.

OP posts:
bluestarlavender · 03/09/2008 11:42

Hi guys,

Are we going topick a new book???

BSL x

summerbird · 03/09/2008 13:28

ello there, i am nearly finished my book so will whizz through it and join in if i may.

are we doing the R&J recommendations then? if so i like the look of No Time For Goodbye and The Outcast and i am open to other suggestions.

DawnAS · 04/09/2008 13:16

Ok, haven't read either, so how about we go for "No Time for Goodbye", what's it about and who writes it, do you know Summerbird? If not I can look it up....

xxx

summerbird · 04/09/2008 13:24

here is the link to the bestsellers page go here i dont mind what we go for.

summerbird · 04/09/2008 18:26

i have just had a really good idea, does anyone fancy doing a book swap? i have just finished my book East of the Sun by Julia Gregson which is on the R&J list above. I am happy to send it on to someone in exchange for the Pippa Lee book you have all just read? We wouldnt swap cash or anything but obviously we would pay the postage for the book we are sending on. IYSWIM

anyone up for it? i can highly recommend the book - it is a chick lit with a few twists and gritty bits in it. you can read the reviews on the link i posted above.

DawnAS · 05/09/2008 21:41

Hey Summerbird,

I'm up for that!! If you want to give me your email address, I'll send you an email with my address on so that we can keep it off of MN.

Sounds brill!!

xxx

summerbird · 06/09/2008 10:07

thats what i thought too, good call dawn!

email me at elisa526 at hotmail dot com

(think i have to write it like that otherwise they will do a search for email addys and tell me off for not paying a fiver for personal messaging!!)

the book is brill and quite funny in parts, you could let me know what you think when you have read it!

bluestarlavender · 08/09/2008 11:01

Oh 'No time for Goodbye' looks good! Let's go for that!!

BSL x

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