A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly

[CDMforever]

Anyone read it?

Am considering it for my book group.

I've read it. It's okay but nothing special - just a teenage novel really. It didn't do a lot for me tbh, although there's nothing [articularly wrong with it either. Sorry - am no help.

p

Shame. Thought it looked good on amazon.

I loved it.

The main character made me feel a little ache in my heart for that moment in life where the whole world lies before you. Maybe I'm still that teenager at heart

What sort of things do your book group usually go for?

I loved this book. Read it a few years ago, and stayed up til I'd finished it (not that common an occurence now I'm not a teenager).

Would agree it is a teenage novel though the two story strands are both engrossing and engaging. I enjoyed the historical element and setting, plus the clear element of choice for the girl in question.

OOoohh, controversial......

Is the book actually written for teenagers? Didn't pick that up on amazon?

I'm really interested in early 20th century America.

Yes - originally a teenage book.

Have you read The Grapes Of Wrath? Actually, that might be too late for you I suppose.

Or Gatsby?

LOVE the Great Gatsby, not so keen on Steinbeck.

We go for a real variety of books, but having recently read and enjoyed Rosamund Lupton's books and Erin Kelly's Poison Tree I originally wanted to find another emotional thriller.

Not sure what lead me to A Gathering Light, probably a link on amazon.

re Fitzgerald and Steinbeck, it would be a refreshing change to try an older book.

To Kill A Mocking Bird?

I read it some years ago and didn't think it was hugely impressive. The historical case it was based on is the same one that was used as the basis for Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy (so I learned a few days ago), which I read last year and got a lot out of. Unfortunately that's not such a good choice for a bookgroup as it's over 800 pages long and quite dense.

I would encourage the picking of older books for a group though. Hemingway, Greene, Forster would be good hunting ground.

Have read To Kill A Mockingbird, don't fancy Hemingway, LOVE Forster (Howards End is one of my all-time faves), not sure about Graham Greene.

Which of his novels would you recommend?

Also toyed with the idea of Three Men in a Boat????

Brighton Rock, or The Power and the Glory, or The End of the Affair.

I like The End Of The Affair. Brighton Rock is an interesting read but all the Catholicism stuff annoys the hell out of me. Yes to Forster. Also, how about Lolita or The Good Soldier - it's moving a long way from early 20th century America but they are both great books!

I would second both of Remus's choices as well.

Decisions, decisions.......

Have read Lolita, whats the Good Soldier?

Tried Brighton Rock but didn't get on with it, will look at The End of the Affair.

Keep em coming!!

A cracking good tale of unreliable narration, love and affairs, heart conditions and various doomed individuals.

And shuttlecocks.

Shuttlecocks eh?!

Just had a gander at it on amazon and think it might be a bit heavy going for the likes of moi!

Nope - it's really not heavy-going. I understood it and I am DIM. :)