We are all completely besides ourselves

[DameEdnasBridesmaid]

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?

I enjoyed it, found it an easy read. The twist wasn't a huge shock exactly but it did completely change the course of the book and made it very different to how it initially seemed.

I nearly sent it windmilling across the room at that point I'll admit, but persevered and it was worth it. It was more interesting and thought provoking than I had expected it to be. I knew of the subject matter but it was an original approach to it and it was emotionally involving but not sentimental or mawkish in its treatment of it, which I liked. It made me think a lot about family relationships and our interactions with the people we love, how it informs our character, childhood and growing up. I took a lot from it other than what it was ostensibly 'about' and found all the books etc referenced interesting and some of it was new to me.

A different take on the Bildungsroman if nothing else! I recommended it to my husband.

That last sentence meant I found it interesting enough to recommend, not that my husband has the last word in these matters

I loved it. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. I started yesterday and finished today. Reading this thread, I can't help but think of this quote from the book.

“The world runs,” Lowell said, “on the fuel of this endless, fathomless misery. People know it, but they don’t mind what they don’t see. Make them look and they mind, but you’re the one they hate, because you’re the one that made them look.”

That is so true about so many things though, isn't it?
Child poverty?
Untold millions dying of infectious diseases/war/poor sanitation?
The issue raised in the book is a terrible one, but not the worst I can think of tbh.

Just finished The Casual Vacancy and am now utterly depressed.
Good read, well-drawn characters, but OMFG
Likely too close to the bone for me as I work with people who live with some of the issues discussed (don't want to post spoilers).

I absolutely loved it.

I thought the narrator was Holden Caulfield-esque in her disappointment with society.

Surprising, smart, heartbreaking.

I loved this too. I really liked Rosemary's voice, and found it clever and funny. (Loved the line about the feds not agreeing that opening a door was the same as closing a door.) There were lots of funny throwaway lines, and great characterisation.

I agree with those who say it reminded them of John Irving. It had more focus and self-control though, I thought.

The central theme was interesting, although I found after the twist, I couldn't view Fern as I had previously. So I agree with slightlyglitterstained when she says 'The thought provoking parts for me were the relationships and Rosie's world as a small child, how little her parents understood of her internal world, how useless/helpless they were at dealing with the aftermath of what happened.'

I was still very moved by the ending though.