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Post by claire on Nov 20, 2006 8:55:52 GMT
Tonights book club will be on Kate Thompsons Sex, Lies & Fairytales. Starting at 8pm or there abouts. If you can't make it please leave a comment
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Post by megan on Nov 20, 2006 11:00:32 GMT
I may be on-line at odd times this evening, so just to be on the safe side I'm posting up my comment now. (I'll be back later) I’ve got quite a lot to say about this book; it provoked very mixed emotions. I loved some parts and really didn’t like others! So here goes:
The writing in the opening chapter of this book was snappy, fast-paced and I was drawn in immediately. The description of Kilrownan village also delighted me. I heard Kate Thompson say that it is based on Roundstone village which I know well and am very fond of; I enjoyed imagining myself there while I read the story. I also enjoyed Chloe in her bookshop and Pixie’s life as a best selling author (that was my favourite part of the book. I loved the bits about her agent, and the detailed descriptions of her working day, right down to what time she got up at, what she ate and when, her morning exercises and what she wore – her PJs.) However, I was disappointed with the male characters in this story and their relationships with women. Chloe’s marriage didn’t seem real to me. I hated her suspicions at the beginning about her husband Paulo and dreaded the whole book being about her paranoia. However, Paulo got it together with the young girl relatively quickly; and so the paranoia wasn’t dragged out any longer. When Chloe chucked him out, I thought that was fair enough and entirely understandable, but what I couldn’t understand was her taking him back in the end, without even talking to him about what he had done! One minute he was banished from the house and the next she was writing him a sexy story and he had made her pregnant. I got the impression that him impregnating her was supposed to convince us that he was a reformed man! It didn’t convince me. Paulo wasn’t real to me and at the end of the story I didn’t trust him not to do the dirt on Chloe again. When I was younger I used to read books with similar story lines to this one and in my ignorance I thought that the relationships represented were what real marriage are like. As a result I NEVER wanted to get married. When I read this story it reminded me of how I used to feel and it upset me in case other young women are put off marriage and trusting men. It’s fine if a book deals with infidelity in a real way, but when it is treated so lightly and the couple are back together as if the betrayal was no big deal it frustrates me. I know many people argue that these stories are escapist and I shouldn’t take them so seriously, but I can’t help it. When it comes to books I expect them to reflect real life, feelings and relationships as much as possible. (And perhaps this story does for some people, I just don’t identify with it.) I also got the feeling that Rory, the super good-looking movie star, was another slime ball who would do the dirt on his wife without thinking too much about it. Hazel’s boyfriend seemed okay, and I liked the scene when he asked her if she had a boyfriend, she said no and he said he would very much like to take her to bed. Straight to the point, no messing. I thought that was great! But I didn’t swallow his twin brother turning up later and attacking her! I also guessed she would have forgiven her parents by the end of the book. I did enjoy her mother and father, though: she was fun and he was a sweet and gentle man. For me, Pixie’s love interest at the end was a welcome change from the flirty and desperately good-looking Paul and Rory, however this man seemed almost too much the other way - like a granddad in comparison! But at least he and Pixie had something in common – fishing - and he didn’t seem the type to go chasing the next piece of skirt that passed his way!
Those are my immediate thoughts on this book. As Oonagh said, there are many positive and negative elements to it, which make it a good one for the book club. Thanks for suggesting it, Oonagh. It was a challenge for me to put into words why I found some parts so difficult!
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 12:37:22 GMT
looking forward to doing this tonight girls. when I get a chance Ill reply properly megan
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 19:46:08 GMT
I loved Pixie as well egan. its being a while since I have read it and I CANT see the other thread on it. just spent 10 minutes looking on it!!Its a fairytale book for adults in my opinion. ALl go their happy ever ending after.I loved when pixie feel into the water. such a funny bit. thompson can really write expliciit sex scenes. i was reading it during the day in work at lunch time and i thought if one of the lads i worked with picked it up. I would never live it down. I wrote things down in my diary that does nt make sense now biut it may come another time.
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 19:51:19 GMT
The writing in the opening chapter of this book was snappy, fast-paced and I was drawn in immediately. The description of Kilrownan village also delighted me It totally had me hooked as well from page 1. dragged a bit in the middle. fine if a book deals with infidelity in a real way, but when it is treated so lightly and the couple are back together as if the betrayal was no big deal it frustrates me. this annoyed me too Megan Hazel’s boyfriend seemed okay, and I liked the scene when he asked her if she had a boyfriend, she said no and he said he would very much like to take her to bed. Straight to the point, no messing. I thought that was great! But I didn’t swallow his twin brother turning up later and attacking her! This was brill loved that story line. i WAS COMPLETLY TURNING THE PAGES TO IT. thanks megan.xx I love discussing books with you girl
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 19:51:57 GMT
Hi Abby
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 19:55:23 GMT
G'day Oonagh
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:00:18 GMT
I'm a bit foggy headed this morn, might take me a bit to think what i want to write..but here goes, It took me a while to get going on this book, although most of the books i've read recently have taken me a while to get into the swing, I adored Fluff, I want a little dog that I can have prance around with painted nails and bows in her hair, i was crying when Pablo ran over her.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:03:34 GMT
To me Cleo and Pablo's relationship never seemed quite real from the start but I put that down to them probably not being the type of people I know anyway and maybe they live differently, kinda like celebs since Pablo was a painter and Cleo had won the lottery.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:04:56 GMT
I loved pixies reference to her books being fairytales for grown-ups.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:08:38 GMT
There was a reference to a book called Mimi's Remedies in this book and I've heard that name in another book that I've read, It's been bugging me since, to try and remember what other book I've read that name in. Any Ideas?
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 20:08:56 GMT
i was crying when Pablo ran over her. aah thats so cute abby!
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 20:09:32 GMT
Mimi's Remedies No Idea abby.
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Post by megan on Nov 20, 2006 20:16:53 GMT
Mimi's Remedy is a reference to a book written by a character in Marion Keyes book 'The Other Sideof the Story'. It was a book about a witch and was a great success!
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:18:12 GMT
I just googled it, cauz its been annoying me so much and it was out of Marian Keys, The other side of the story.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:18:45 GMT
Thanks Megan
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Post by claire on Nov 20, 2006 20:18:56 GMT
There was a reference to a book called Mimi's Remedies in this book and I've heard that name in another book that I've read, It's been bugging me since, to try and remember what other book I've read that name in. Any Ideas? I can remember so much about the book you mean but not the title!!! It was about a gril who fell inlove with her best friends boyfriend and they started to live together. The girl wrote a book called Mimis Remidies. The other girl was always going on about writting about a book but couldn't do it. The both had the same agent ans American
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Post by claire on Nov 20, 2006 20:20:15 GMT
Mimi's Remedy is a reference to a book written by a character in Marion Keyes book 'The Other Sideof the Story'. It was a book about a witch and was a great success! that's it, I wasn't sure if it was Marian Keyes book or not and I know not everybody liked it. Now we are off topic here so lets get back to the right book
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:23:47 GMT
I found it interesting when Pixie's main character of the first book she was writing wouldn't come and show her what was going to happen next and this lead on to pixie's reader block, I think i really started getting into the book around then, and didn't want to put the book down, the Tabbitha/Dominique blog was interesting and great revenge, i could understand how Pixie couldn't keep away from it. Even though originally it and the amazon comments were hurting her she couldn't help but to read them.
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Post by megan on Nov 20, 2006 20:24:15 GMT
Another thing I liked about this book was the plot ie organising a festival. I liked reading about all the background work that goes into planning an event like this.
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Post by megan on Nov 20, 2006 20:25:57 GMT
Hey, Oonagh. I'm glad you liked the Hugh and Hazel scene too! I've got to go now. Am driving home from my parents house. Might try and pop on again later.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:29:59 GMT
Take care Megan
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:36:37 GMT
When I first met Hugh and Hazel, i wasn't sure they'ed end up together, I got the feeling we might spend half the books listeding to Hazel go on about Hugh and trying to impress him, while he wasn't interested, I'm glad hes was interested in Hazel, and I was glad harry (hughs brother) came into the story and Hazel's mother had actually slept with him and not hugh
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:42:18 GMT
I was disappointed that Hazel wasn't the good role model and didn't want to press charges against Harry, but I felt Hazel's not wanting to press charges was very real, i imagine most people who don't press charges, do it because thay don't want to be reminded of it especially when it can be such a drawn out process and having to talk about often in front of the person who did it.
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 20:53:00 GMT
I should really start gettin ready to go to work.
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 21:06:32 GMT
sorry there abby got distracted there for a while. xx
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Post by Abby on Nov 20, 2006 21:20:22 GMT
No worries Oonagh, I'm still here catching up on the other threads but i really do have to start getting ready for work. Have a good night. chat later.
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Post by Oonagh on Nov 20, 2006 21:43:33 GMT
see ya abby. xx
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Post by fionnuala on Nov 20, 2006 23:46:16 GMT
I can't believe I missed the discussion againnnnnn!!!! I'm goin to have to get my head in gear girls - would some kind person please remind me in advance of the next one!! I love Kate Thompson's work - The Blue Hour was a great read! I will have to get this one too!
Fionn
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Post by Abby on Nov 21, 2006 4:28:50 GMT
Hey Fionnuala, I'd offer to send you an email or something in advance before the next one but I usually forget myself. I have made the last 2 though maybe i'm getting organised. I don't think I have an email address for you, if you could send it to me I'll try to send you something before hand. Maybe even if a few of us send you something then your really couldn't miss it.
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