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What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

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Original poster

We are all completely besides ourselves

81 replies

DameEdnasBridesmaid · 26/07/2014 19:35

Just got to the 'twist' and it has completely put me off. No idea that was what the book was about and wouldn't have bought if I was aware.

Don't want to say what because it's a spoiler.

Is it worth persevering?

OP posts:

frogbubbles · 26/08/2014 00:06

Have this downloaded to kindle. - looking forward to reading it

Optimist1 · 26/08/2014 15:27

Just finished reading it (the twist had been revealed to me by a blabbermouth friend before I started). Liked it a lot - it made me think about the nature of study, convictions, siblings and so on. I was in tears at the end. A bit reminiscent of some of John Irving's books, IMO.

firstposts · 26/08/2014 15:31

Argh! Literally reading it at this very moment. Want to read thread but don't want book to be spoiled.

Will put down phone and pick up book!

CaulkheadUpNorth · 26/08/2014 15:37

I loved it. Probably wouldn't have read it if I knew what it was about, but thought it was really well written and liked the style, so was hooked before it happened if that makes sense.

For people who didn't like it, do you like other things with a twist like Never Let Me Go?

MsVanRein · 26/08/2014 15:44

I loved it, read it in 2 days.

Admittedly I was a bit put off by the plot twist at first but I thought it was a brilliant book. One of the best I've read in a while.

firstposts · 27/08/2014 22:58

God, I loved it. Just finished it and got that empty feeling when you realise it's all gone. Think the characters will stay with me for a while. Beautiful.

WookieCookiee · 27/08/2014 23:08

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.

fromparistoberlin73 · 29/08/2014 14:19

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

AvonCallingBarksdale · 29/08/2014 14:28

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.

titchy · 29/08/2014 14:41

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.

CatLaFitte · 29/08/2014 16:53

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

mmack · 31/08/2014 10:23

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.

Suzannewithaplan · 04/09/2014 21:52

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.

Havanacat · 04/09/2014 21:56

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.

JoyceDivision · 04/09/2014 22:02

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.

PacificDogwood · 04/09/2014 22:13

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.

Southeastdweller · 04/09/2014 22:18

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

PacificDogwood · 04/09/2014 22:20

Havanacat · 04/09/2014 22:22

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!

PacificDogwood · 04/09/2014 22:23

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

I think I have to stop looking at this thread

MrsCosmopilite · 04/09/2014 22:29

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.

Suzannewithaplan · 05/09/2014 10:55

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

Original poster

DameEdnasBridesmaid · 06/09/2014 21:47

Loved A casual vacancy (intrigued to see the forthcoming film), love the Comoran Strike books too.
Didn't carry on reading WACBO, can't stand animals, not remotely interested.

OP posts:

PacificDogwood · 07/09/2014 15:49

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

LadyWithLapdog · 07/09/2014 16:01

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.

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