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Post by claire on Mar 12, 2007 21:06:14 GMT
Hi girl s will look at the thread properly later up to my eyes!! oh yeah! reading Sarah's book tut tut
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Post by SarahW on Mar 12, 2007 21:08:00 GMT
OOnagh, get off the internet and go and do your essay, you bold thing! Are you going to make it tomorrow or will I have to come and drag you down to Dublin myself?!
Just kidding. I have to do TV3 in the morning, so I shouldn't be online myself - but you wouldn't believe the amount of emails I have.
Wish I could stay and chat, girls, but have to run - have to write a speech for a lunch tomorrow - should have done it weeks ago of course.
All the best, SarahX
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Post by claire on Mar 12, 2007 21:09:14 GMT
GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!!!
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Post by Shirley on Mar 12, 2007 21:10:15 GMT
See you tomorrow Sarah!
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Post by SarahW on Mar 12, 2007 21:10:33 GMT
Thanks a million, Claire. I'll post lots of photos on my website so you can see what went on. Really have to go now - hope you are well. Hey, did you win a book - I think you did - they haven't been sent out yet - apologies. SarahX
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Post by SarahW on Mar 12, 2007 21:11:21 GMT
Hi Shirley, see you there. Look forward to it. SarahX Bye!! Have a good night tonight!
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Post by Karen on Mar 12, 2007 21:11:28 GMT
Yep, good luck for tomorrow Sarah. I will be thinking of you!
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Post by claire on Mar 12, 2007 21:17:33 GMT
sorry girls have to go, check on things tomorrow
night all
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Post by Oonagh on Mar 12, 2007 21:28:41 GMT
night claire. will catch up soon
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Post by Karen on Mar 12, 2007 21:31:11 GMT
I think I'll be leaving soon too but will check back in tomorrow.
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Post by megan on Mar 12, 2007 22:14:03 GMT
HI Girls,
It is interesting to catch up on your posts now that i'm back from groovy disco dancing class - great fun!! I'm always amazed how we can have such different views on books - it's great! Nicc hated Shane and Shirley and I really liked him - I agree with you Shirley about recovery stories - they're my kind of thang!! And interesting to note that you agreed with me regarding the explanation during dialogue. It's very easily done. As a writer I do it when I'm telling myself what is going on but it really isn't necessary on the page! I couldn't feel sorry for Linda, Claire. I just didn't care enough about her. I suppose in the very end she was very miserable and alone, but unfortunately she hadn't learned anything. I imagine her continuing on with her life in much the same way. I'm looking forward to hearing what the other girls think when they get a chance. Jo has read it, I know. Anyone else?
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Post by Abby on Mar 13, 2007 0:27:47 GMT
I'm sorry Gals, I thought this was tommorrow, haven't been online for a few days, too busy. I'll read up on this thread later and leave my thoughts.
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Post by nicc on Mar 13, 2007 5:05:32 GMT
Her style of writing reminded me of Patricia Scanlan (who I love). I also liked that it was set in a little street and told us about the people that lived there then they all ended up being intertwined through out the book. As for the explanation of dialogue, I don't remember if it worried me or not. It was awhile ago that I read the book so can't really remember.
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 13, 2007 8:16:48 GMT
sorry I wasn't on here for the discussion yesterday (this morning our Oz time) but I was called unexpectedly into work for last night, and by the time I got home this morning just after 6am all I wanted to do was go to bed and sleep. Unfortunately for me, I only slept 4hrs and have just had another call advising I will have to work again tonight, so guess who is going to be dead on her feet this time tomorrow??
Anyway, to the book: My impression as I read the first half was that the main character and focus was really the prem baby and what had to be done for him...sorry girls, but this was not my favourite part of the story and I just felt it went on and on and on about prem babies and the treatments and procedures etc just a tad too much. Big tad in fact. I found myself skimming over these parts and in doing so, missed a bit of info about the parents and their families. The parents could have been nameless to me really, for all the story told me about them and their lives, dreams and hopes. I really liked Shane and his story. I have experienced a similar situation myself, and know how devastating it is to those who are close but can find no ready answers as to why it has happened. Losing his mate like that was the 'meat' of the story I felt. And the crux of the tragedy being recreational drugs, so 'now'. We've heard of a few young girls dying in much the same way recently here in Oz, due to a 'bad' e tablet etc. His mum came across as a very caring, with it mum who was wise in her handling of his recovery. His depression was well described and I could feel Shane's pain and his fear of going back out into the big bad world especially work, where he'd not been doing his best beforehand anyway...his feeling a little ashamed and sheepish about that added to his depression and I really felt for him. Wanted to reach out and give him a hug. It can form such a vicious circle with seemingly no way out. I felt a little disappointed though by his reaction to finding out about his mum's male friend. I mean, hello, he's an adult who has lived in his own house for some time, illness being the reason for his return to his mother's home and arms...and yet he was carrying on like a 15yo mixed up kid...that part just didn't gel for me and it annoyed me somewhat in spite of the fact he had been suffering depression and mixed emotions regarding his life and work in general. I actually lost a bit of my sympathy and fondness for Shane because of this, and he only just managed to redeem himself in my eyes by finally growing up and accepting the fact that his Mum was a free agent after all (his Dad died years ago after all, not just a year or so ago!!!), and he then became good buds with the man-friend. Amy's story was interesting when she was away from the hospital, and I loved how she finally ended up with Charlie. I felt the affair with Peter was sad, but rather sweet too. The difficulties and shyness with not knowing his family or her consequential place when he had died could have been enlarged upon and could have been an interesting part of the story too...I felt it was dealt with, done and dusted too quickly and cleanly to make way for her relationship to develop in double quick time with Charles, before the end of the book. Housing estates do nothing for me, but then I'm not really a suburbs type of person I guess. The naming of the houses was a good idea and is popular in USA I've been told by a friend's niece who lives there now with her lovely yank husband. Linda or whatever her name was, was a misunderstood, materialistic, ambitious, hard hearted missy who really only needed the love of her dad. She came across as a lonely girl who missed out on the best of friendships and relationships because she had never learnt how to give love. She had never been given or shown it by her parents. I felt sorry for her really. She is the type of girl I would try my hardest to get to know and go out for a coffee with, just to see how she ticks and attempt to get to her softer, funnier side. On the whole it wasn't a bad read ...sorry if I have come across rather negative in my opinion of it....I just feel the hospital/medical details were just a bit much for a light hearted book, and so much more could have been written about the actual characters.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 8:33:15 GMT
Wow, great review Jo. You're on the ball for having had such little sleep! Another thing I wanted to add about Shane was that I really liked the way he was so humble with Hazel at the end of the story and felt he wasn't a fine catch and this prevented him from asking her out earlier. It made me like him all the more. And his reaction to his mother's boyfriend worked for me (in that I found it believable) because he was a very immature guy to begin with - remember him at the start of the novel - a right ejjit!
This is a great bookclub - lots of different opinions!! Forgot to say to Karen earlier - great review!
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 8:41:38 GMT
Just read your great review again, Jo. There is so much in it that it warranted a second read. I am fascinated that you would try your best to get to know, Linda. I would avoid someone like her big time - I imagine she would be a rotten friend and would hurt me. Been there and done that!
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 13, 2007 8:49:15 GMT
I like a challenge Megan, and I love turning these people inside out and getting to their more vulnerable side. Everyone has the makings of being either a b...ch or a sweetie, and usually I find the former are really sweeties who have been very hurt somehow and think the only way to survive is by getting in first with the nasties to avoid being the one hurt yet again. I've worked with so many of these types, and everyone decides to hate them which makes them worse. After enduring the 'bullying' of a couple of these types, I made it my mission to beat them at their own game, but not by bullying them, but by befriending them and ultimately helping to bring out the sweet person they really are capable of being. Thanks for your nice words about my review by the way...I thought it was rather long winded really, and probably boring to most of you.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 8:53:40 GMT
NOT AT ALL BORING!!!!! I loved it. Please tell us more!!!
And good on you for being secure enough to be able to befriend people like that. I don't have the energy for them and choose to spend my time with people who make me feel good about myself and who I respect and love. Anyway I have to admit that I have come to the conclusion that I can't change anyone but myself - I have tried and failed!
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 13, 2007 9:05:45 GMT
I agree Megan, we can't change anyone but ourselves, but we can certainly help. My mum (RIP) used to always say when I was a kid, 'You can catch more flies with honey, than with lemons' and I have adopted this as my adage to live by. I don't mean I am sickly sweet with no backbone!!! Far from it girl!! No, I can be firey and can put on a fit of the spits like anyone can, and can actually name 2 guys who are ex's of rellies of mine, who are so scared of me (which is laughable really as I'm only a shortie really) they avoid meeting up with me as much as they can, and one of them who is a 48yo tuff would be if he could be bikie twit, actually shakes when he's in the same room as I am!! Tim and I have a good laugh about it often. This isn't due to any great brawn or punch up on my part, but just due to their not being able to handle someone being completely honest and upfront with them and so totally non-tolerant of their bad behaviours. For years I suffered at the hands of one of these tuff girls who bullied and harrassed my friend and I at work every day...Suzi my friend ended up having a nervous breakdown and I had 6mths off work on stress leave and was like a zombi most of the time. When I recovered after much counselling and lots of time alone to think and sort my own feelings out, I decided I would adopt the 'catch more flies with honey' attitude in future, otherwise I could have become bitter and twisted and just as bad as these nasty types. It can be hard going sometimes, and I have been tempted to just give up many times on one or two. It doesn't happen in a hurry either...can take years. But the feeling of having done something positive for others is pretty good really, and I have some really dear pals now who were once the biggest b.....s on earth.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 9:13:09 GMT
Well, Jo, you are one in a million and I am delighted to know you!
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 13, 2007 9:39:14 GMT
Thankyou Megan, that's lovely of you to say. I fell very fortunate to have been guided to this site by Claire. Never dreamt I would meet so many great people.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 9:46:08 GMT
Claire is great - I'm so happy that she introduced you to us.
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 13, 2007 10:01:52 GMT
On a much lighter note before I take off for work....just read Marian Keye's newsletter...She is such a laugh I can't imagine her suffering from depression really!!!
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Post by claire on Mar 13, 2007 12:47:28 GMT
I'd be lost without you lot! don't embarrass me like this Jo loved the review, was a great read
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Post by charlene on Mar 13, 2007 14:00:07 GMT
Hi everyone sorry didnt make it last night I was too tired after work, anyway been reading through and here goes nothing
I really tried with this book but I am ashamed to say I give up, it just didnt take my attention enough, maybe it was me I don't know but the detail describing about the special baby unit just seemed to go on and on and my mind was wondering also the first chapter my mind was wondering and I just give up , not pleased with myself but there you go. I wasnt going to give my thoughts and reading through the posts I feel let down with myself for not sticking with the book however I have put it one side and I'm going to give it another go.
sorry guys.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 14:05:51 GMT
No worries, Charlie. Thanks for letting us know your honest opinion. Quite a few of us felt the same about the ammount of information given about premature babies. It really slowed down the book for me also. I guess it's either your thing or it's not.
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Post by charlene on Mar 13, 2007 14:14:45 GMT
Thanks megan, I normally can get straight into a book but when I struggle I have to put it one side, also my two were in special care and it brought back a few memories.
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Post by megan on Mar 13, 2007 16:08:13 GMT
I told a mother who had a premature baby about the book but she couldn't bare to read it. Somethings are just too close to the bone. Her baby is fine now, thankfully.
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Post by jofromoz on Mar 14, 2007 7:06:10 GMT
Charlie your words: I don't know but the detail describing about the special baby unit just seemed to go on and on
I agree whole heartedly with this....I think because it was all in the beginning of the book, it really tainted the rest of the book for me. I felt physically ill at times from the gruelling descriptions (not because I can't handle gore etc, I trained as a nurse and loved it), but it was just too too much to take. I felt like I was reading a medical manual at times and lost interest. Like you, I had considered just dropping the book, but I had done this with another recently, and that is just not me to not finish a book, so I perservered and found most of the book was enjoyable.
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Post by Oonagh on Mar 14, 2007 16:27:34 GMT
I loved it as ye all know especially shane and hazel. i didnt notice the describing of the baby s unit at all but maybe its just im interested in that side of it!! linda was an awful bee. I loved it!! I would definetly read it agin. its amazing how we all have different tastes in books. Isnt it??
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