Mumsnet book club Sea Glass

[sophiewd]

Ok I will kick off again. I have to say that thank god DH was around, we had no guests and it was a weekend as I couldn't put it down. Consequently it only took me 24hours to read. I loved the different characters and how they slowly became a group through what each had to offer. I didn't know the mill strikes were so bad and that many children, women as well as men were among the victims and that the KKK were so involved. I also like the short chapters that kept you reading. The descriptions of the surroundings plus the characters were beleievable. A really good choice.

Right who's next.

Well the next book is The Secret River by Kate Grenville but I think i'm going to read another book on the Booker short list in the meanwhile

I'm reading Vanish by Tess Gerritsen, never read any of hers before, it's pretty gritty and got "Getting Rid of Matthew" by Jane fallon to read next. Plus of course Secret River....

What am I reading? It's making such an impact I can't remember what it's called, oh yes, Sole Survivor by Dean Koontz (ie trashy thriller that goes a bit sci fi)

Sorry I am so late to this - especially as like USAUKmum I too have been waiting biting my nails since the beginning of Feb to talk about this!

I LOVED it, and I mean really loved it. I am so glad McDreamy chose it as I have never read any Anita Shreve and probably wouldn't have picked it up, but I thought it was simply superbly written, the characterisation was pin-sharp, the language was beautiful, and the juxtaposition of the narrators was cleverly handled so just when you felt you couldn't take any more of Sexton and would like to beat him to a pulp, along would come Alphonse or someone more likable to restore your faith in humanity a bit.

But I am to find out McDermott's age - is he really supposed to be 23? I completely missed that in the book! I agree he comes across more like late thirties.

My only slight criticism would be that like Roskva I found the jumping from character to character a bit confusing at first - once I got to know them all it was easy but at first it was a bit like being at a party where you don't know anyone and they are all talking at once, it takes a while to sort out the threads and work out who you like and who you have nothing in common with.

Ok, rant over, time for a glass of wine (virtual and real).

I'm ashamed to say I haven't finished the book yet and was shocked to realise today was March already! (I seem to be half way through several different books at the moment.)

I too find the constant flipping between characters quite confusing, and it's such a relief when they start to link together.

Will definitely finish the book though, and promise to be more on the ball for The Secret River.

I agree that McDermott does seem young -- but people did have to get older faster in some circumstances at that time. Even growing up in midwest I know some people who were old before their time because of accidents, etc and having to take care of the family from what we would consider a young age (18). So thought that was believable.

I'm obviously going to have to change my posting habits on book night -- I was in bed at 9:30 and here you were all posting.

I enjoy the book very much. I think Anita's ability of interweaving the various characters into the story is very clever, giving the reader time to build a picture of there personlilties.But then the strike at the Mill House drawn them all together.The beach house became theis meeting place and a new set of relationshis develops.The whole story is based on the characters themselves and Shreve creation of very complex individuals.
At the end ech became individuals again unique as the SEE GLASS Honora collects. I love it never find it dull each individual character help to shape the story in a unique way. Sorry a day late computer down yesterday. Looking forward to the next read.

I am here on holiday in the uk at the moment back home tomorrow will be posting my review on Monday evening. Thanks for starting my book off for me. I tried to get internet access on the first but I couldn't!!

Honora would never have married that slimey bloke.
And it was a bit wittery.
And there were too many opportune and glassy moments.
And how did she make peach ice cream in a wooden hut?
I think the author got bored writing it about 1/3rd way through.
So off it goes in the Oxfam box.

When are we reconvening for the next one?

Sorry, I'm late. Read it at the beginning of the month and forgot we were reporting back!
I enjoyed it more than I expected. I read it pretty much in one go, so didn't find the fragmented story so much of an issue. Honora did get on my nerves - I know marriage equals respectability in this era, but it is difficult to imagine marrying virtual strangers in these circumstances.

All in all, good though - and informative.

1st April Roskva

SlowReader, why do you think she was in a wooden box? She made peach icecream and kept it in the ice box....

Because her friend Vivian thought her house was derelict and it certainly sounded like it from the description. Didn't make sense to me, one day poverty, the next peach ice cream. Just found the whole book v contrived. Although I do realise all books are contrived and hence they exist. (That bit of red glass was too unsubtle....)