Fresh Powder by Susanne O'Leary

[megan]

Hi girls,

I read on another thread that this might be the one for the book club in May. So here is a little of what it is about to get your taste buds going!

The story begins with Claire and Lucy in college together in Dublin. They have a big row. At first I am on Lucy's side but then I switch to be up for Claire! As the novel goes on we see that both of them made mistakes and we can't side with either of them. ( Well I still did, couldn't help it!)
THey end up ten years later staying in the same deluxe log cabin in the French Alps. Along with them are Patrick, a dangeroulsy good looking man, his sister who looks like a drug head, Al a businees tycoon and his hilarious wife Penny! There is also a little girl called Emilie, who sees a lot more of what is going on than most of the adults!
The story is written in such a way that you keep wanting to go back for more - kind of like pringles! THere are short snappy chapters which deal with the story from different characters' view points. And there are some lovely descriptions of snow. One in particular I liked was of Lucy lost in a blizzard feeling like she was inside of a full milk carton! I read this book over a weekend and particularly enjoyed the scenes with Penny, the older woman. She is very funny!
There are some interesting comments on the role of women in their relationships with men that will make good material for the bookclub discussion. I'll say nothing about them here!
So that's it. I have a copy of Fresh Powder which I can post overseas to anyone who would like it, but I want it back as it's signed by Susanne!

[claire]

It sounds like a great one

[Susanne O'Leary]

Hi there!

I sneak-read your comments, Megan, most interesting and spot on! It's nice to know that the hidden problems and angles that are simmering under the surface are noticed by the reader. Fresh Powder is going from strength to strength and has just been picked for the 'three for two' promotion by Waterstones. I'm off to the the Alps on Saturday for some of the last fresh powder of the season, the snow is incredible at the moment, they say. Have a lovely Paddy's day!

[megan]

Lucky you Susanne! Bring us back some snow!

[Shirley]

I finished Fresh Powder. The setting is enchanting and will make you want to book a skiing holiday immediately! The location is almost like another character in the book, and sometimes an antagonist to the characters! I liked the dynamic between Patrick and Lucy, and the fact that Patrick doesn't really turn out to be the person you perceive him to be at the start of the book. There is an interesting discussion between the female characters on "telling the truth" near the end of the book where two of the ladies have an "honest" chat in which they totally tell each other fibs. I thought it was very realistic as in my experience, everyone has little white lies they carry with them on a day-to-day basis, and even when you know someone is lying to you, you sometimes let them away with it because you know they need to keep their secrets. Claire and Penny's discussion in the hot tub while they are smoking dope is also interesting - and the scene that follows that one is quite funny!
Susanne, you have your own unique style and this book is quite sassy - I think that I would recognise your writing voice immediately if I picked up another book by you without knowing who had written it (not that that would ever happen, but I'm speaking hypothetically!). Your characters have a bit of attitood!!!!! :-) Well done and all the best for the next print run.

[Shirley]

Forgot to mention Emilie - what a little star! She was hilarious.

[Susanne O'Leary]

Hi Shirley,
Thanks for all your praise. I am so glad you liked the book, as I had a lot of fun writing it! Did you like the end? Had you guessed it beforehand? (But don't reveal it to anyone, please!) I'm also glad that you got all the nuances and the relationships between the characters. I try my best when I write not to 'tell' to much so that the reader will feel the vibes rather than have it spelled out.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Susanne

[Oonagh]

Cant wait to read it now!!! after my exams come on the 19 th of may!!

[Shirley]

Well I don't want to say too much about the ending in case I ruin it for anyone, but all I will say is that I didn't really think too much about the business angle and what was going on in the background there - I was absorbed in the relationships while reading the book, and really didn't think about the business aspect at all! I would have guessed a little about the relationships, but everything came together in such a way that it didn't really matter. It was a nice rounded ending. I hope that answers your question without actually giving anything away either!

Just an aside - I loved the bit when Claire found out there was food in the backup freezer - I actually laughed out loud at that. Emilie was so nonchalant about it all when Claire asked her why she didn't tell everyone about the food!

[claire]

I have just finished reading this book about 5 mins ago. I loved every page. It was well paced and never dragged out or boring. Just enough characters to keep it interesting and lively and the ones on the 'sidelines' where great, not too much information on them but enough to get a picture of them. It really was 'a sassy, sexy tale of love on the slopes' as it said on the cover.

Oonagh you will love it!!

[Oonagh]

cool cant wait.thanks claire